Chicago aldermen call out transportation dept. over Complete Streets, bike lanes

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – A Chicago alderman says the city’s Complete Streets program is a disaster that’s costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to the Chicago Department of Transportation, the city had 30% fewer traffic fatalities in 2024 than in 2021.

CDOT Assistant Commissioner Dave Smith discussed Complete Streets capital investments before the city council’s committee on pedestrian and traffic safety on Monday.

“When we design our streets for those most in need, we make the streets safer for everybody,” Smith said.

The assistant commissioner said the number of serious or life-altering injuries also decreased.

Smith cited enhanced crosswalks, curb ramps and extensions, bikeways, bus boarding islands and other measures.

Alderman Raymond Lopez told the CDOT officials that Complete Streets has been a complete disaster for the Brighton Park neighborhood.

“You’ve been acting in a very rogue and unaccountable way with nearly $791 million planned in your budget from 2025 until 2029,” Lopez said.

Lopez said with $3.6 billion going to CDOT as a whole, commissioners should focus on upgrading the lights so people could walk “without getting shot, mugged or killed.”

Alderman Marty Quinn said his constituents are not interested in bike lanes.

“I want to be abundantly clear today with the department, that if that’s the path that you’re going to go down, the community is going to be opposed and I’m going to be leading that effort,” Quinn said.

Alderman Pat Dowell said she was concerned about CDOT’s approach to Complete Streets projects.

“I don’t think you even contact OEMC or the fire department about how those bike lanes and road diets are going to affect the movement of ambulances, fire trucks, police cars,” Dowell said.

Dowell said a bike lane project at 18th Street and Wabash Avenue was done without any community engagement.

“Do not put another bike lane in the Third Ward until you have a conversation with me and my constituents,” Dowell said.