Infrastructure

Plus SBC readers share their thoughts about whether our city's rock-bottom rating is fair, and what Chicago should do to become more bikeable.

Watch a video of the speech here.

Recently, Streetsblog Chicago heard from Phil D'Anieri, Teaching Professor at the University of Michigan's Department of Urban and Regional Planning. This week, he's leading a class on a transportation-themed trip to the Windy City. These students are in a new degree program called Urban Technology, and they'll be spending their time in Chicago looking at issues and opportunities related to sustainable transportation.

Read Part 1: "Can automated enforcement, 25 mph speed limit be done equitably?" here.

It's that time of year again. On Friday, the 47th Ward, the North Side district represented by Ald. Matt Martin, launched its annual participatory budgeting voting process. PB elections let residents help determine how to spend a ward's $1.5 million a year in discretionary "menu" money for infrastructure projects.

After the recent presidential election, Streetsblog Chicago checked in with local sustainable transportation advocates about what could done to help safeguard the future of walk/bike/transit in our region before Donald Trump takes office again.

A new report from the Chicago Department of Transportation has some encouraging news about the effects of roadway improvements on traffic safety. Thanks to investment in traffic calming and bike/pedestrian safety infrastructure, Chicago recorded a 27 percent decline in traffic deaths in 2023, down from a peak of more than 180 roadway fatalities in 2021. 

They also talked about the local Participatory Budgeting election, and other efforts to create safer streets on the Near Northwest Side.

After the announcement of Chicago Works in April 2021, advocacy groups like the Active Transportation Alliance and the Metropolitan Planning Council voiced concerns that the plan might simply advance the car-centric status quo.