Thread by @streetsblogchi

City Council budget hearings are going on now, streaming here:
livestream.com/accounts/28669…

We'll tweet out SBC-relevant content, including possible some questions about @chi_streets' proposal for municipal sidewalk plowing.

.@ChicagoDOT presentation at the budget hearing is starting. Transpo chief @gia_biagi and various deputies presenting.

Says CDOT's approach is informed by equity-focused Strategic Plan.

Highlights 2022 accomplishments:
-Smart lighting
-Jackson Park "mobility improvements" for OPC
-Broke ground on Damen/Green 'L' stop project
-Nearly completed bridge projects
-"Unprecented #" of safety projects

On pace to install >400 ped projects to improve safety and comfort, almost 1,000 projects since 2020.

Claims CDOT has installed 40 miles of new bikeway investments a year since 2020, "more than twice the rate" before that. 🤔

Notes the asphalt and concrete strike from earlier this year delayed projects.

Vice chair of transpo committee @rodriguezfor22 is starting the questioning. Praises CDOT as one of the best city departments

Rodriguez calls for more protected bike lanes, and lowering default citywide speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph. 👍

Biagi: 174 Chicago on-street traffic deaths in 2021. Primary reason is speed. "Speed kills."

Gia discusses using concrete infra to shorten crossing distances, keep drivers from whipping around corners.

Wants to get feds to find more bike/ped infra, and pass regulations for safer vehicle design, that helps keep people *outside* vehicles safe.

GB: We're wrapping up Vision Zero planning efforts on the West Side, particularly in Belmont Cragin.

MR: "Folks are scared... I do get a sense, particularly from the bike community, that we're not moving fast enough. People are dying." How is this reflected in the budget.

GB: One of the the things we began last year is a community bike network strategy. We've added >100 miles of new bikeways, 75% of that is on S and W sides.

Says miles of PBLs has recently risen from 24 to 42 miles.
increased from 11 to 44 miles of nabe greenways.

MR: I hear you, but it still seems like we're moving too slow.

"Inflation is nuts across the country," asks if the city would consider paying for more infra as opposed to alders covering stuff thru discretionary menu funds.

GB: This year security cams won't come out of menu money. Says inflation has been an issue with all kinds of CDOT expenses.

.@50thWardChicago asks about cyclist deaths: On 2021 10 cyclist deaths, 8 so far in 2022.

(Silverstein voted to allow 9 mph speeding in cam zones.)

GB & deputy Kevin O'Malley respond to Silverstein's question about what is done after bike fatalities. They say they study the intersections to look at what safety improvements can be made, eventually issuing recommendations in a report.

DS asks about funding for safety infra.

Last year an off-duty cop ran over and killed Herschel Weinberger 9 on his bike in Silverstein's ward.
chi.streetsblog.org/2021/07/30/cop…

DS asks about the concrete and cement shortage, partly due to quarry worker strike this summer, low Mississippi River levels, IL river lock issues.

GB: Cement and concrete suppliers are rationing supplies. Recently city of Milwaukee didn't have concrete for 2 days. More barges have shifted to transporting grain. "If it sounds like a cascade of terrible problems, it is."

DS: Question about menu money, concern about "collector streets," says she's having problem getting these streets repaved."

Tom Carney, deputy, says collector repaving program was impacted by aforementioned issues, prioritized streets in worst shape, and larger wards.

.@Ald_Reboyras, who's stepping down. "We don't need additional menu dollars, we want to see some of these menu dollars to be added to [CDOT's] budget.]

Mentions problems with bad light poles falling down and damaging private property.

AR says shared-cost sidewalk program is insufficient for keeping sidewalks in good shape.

@AldermanTabares from SW Side also asks for more menu dollars for wards. Asks about sign maintenance protocols.

Tabares, did they raise the cost estimate for streetscape features as a menu expenditures?

GB, yes, all of the costs have gone up. Things with electronic components have been in short supply.

.@AldTomTunney who's stepping down and may be running for mayor, asks about staffing. Notes that there are 10 positions that are currently open in CDOT's division of project development.

GB: "We have a number of hard to fill positions, particularly in planning and design."

TT: Redefine the Drive has basically gone dark. Community members feel left out on planning on entrances and exists to the drive. Wants in-person community meetings. What's park district's role in signing onto this project?

GB: We expect to have a community meeting by the 2nd quarter of 2023. 5K respondents to online survey.

TT: "There's a lot of angst" in north lakefront wards over this project. Also says NDLSD needs to be repaved, new street lights.

TT: 1998 Halsted streetscape is in need of renovation.

GB: We're trying to set up a funding source via Chicago Works infra plan for renewing streetscapes.

TT: Historically we've required developers to pay a deposit to open the street for gas, water to make sure they repair the street properly, but that's not currently required, "so I have to watch them like a hawk... You just have to go chase them."

Carney: Under ex-CDOT chief @gabe_klein we stopped charging developers to open streets. We've been talking about reversing that.

TT: Praises prompt responses to 311 request for sidewalk fixes. But says many menu projects have not been completed, bad in an election year.

.@ward32chicago: Asks about pedestrian improvements, such as standardizing what upgrades should be standard around schools.

GB: Says they've been focused on making poling places ADA accessible, but are also looking at schools.

SW: Says @CTA has been opposed to curb extension on some of their routes because they might impede buses. Talks about CEs added on Armitage.

GB: Says CDOT is working closely with CTA on bus bulbs on Belmont, Betters for Buses plan.

SW: What percentage of 9K ADA ramps installed need to be replaced?

SW: Do you ask IL secretary of state what their office can do to weed out bad drivers? Other countries don't let bad drivers get near cars.

.@ald_nicolelee says 11th Ward has a lot of deteriorating bridges and viaducts. Asks how CDOT prioritizes fixing these.

GB: We asses the B & Vs and prioritize "the worst first", says they've done 19 major bridge rebabs under Chicago Works, with 19 more on deck.

NL: Did a @DivvyBikes tour with GB, which was great. Noticed that protected bike lanes went up the most on this year's menu budget. Wants to know how much of bike lanes will have to be paid for by menu money.

GB: Cost increase is due to move from plastic posts to concrete curbs.

GB says current concrete bike lane are being paid for by Chicago Works.

NL thanks her for restriping protected bike lanes on 18th Street Bridge.

@48Ward: Says traffic violence on NDLSD is a major problem.

Wants to lower the speed limit on Broadway.

HO wants to know why we can't just "pull the trigger" on lowering speed limits citywide.

GB: Says IDOT usually uses problematic 85% rule to set speed limits on state roads. Says CDOT is trying to cut IDOT red tape in getting safety installed on state roads.

HO asks about streamlining the eTOD planning process so developers don't have to deal with "5 different city departments."

HO says there's a sense of urgency about bike safety. Suggests having an advisory council of ped and cyclists with space for dialogue and common ground.

HO says "There can't be motorized bikes and scooters on the Lakefront Trail... someone's going to die. If you're going 40 mph on an e-bike, you can ride on Sheridan."

Divvy bikes are capped at 20 mph, but some private e-bikes go faster.

HO asks if NASCAR race in Grant Park will include a closure of DLSD. GB says it will close a small portion, HO says that's problematic.

HO asks about shoreline improvement and protection projects.

.@JamesCappleman, who's stepping down says there's a lot of "angst" over the NDLSD project.

Is there an overall project to create bike lanes through the city rather than having each this done piecemeal?

JC asks about @chi_streets proposal to have city plow sidewalks like Rochester, NY. Says he'd rather house everyone than do that, but is open to the idea of having municipal plowing for 4"+ snowfalls.

GB notes that Streets and San, not CDOT does most plowing.

.@Ald_Villegas asks about getting federal money for bridge repairs.

GB discusses different federal funding sources they're applying to for bridge dollars.

.@AldReilly is asking about bike lanes. "The width of the bike lane still allows goofballs to park in the bike lanes." Suggests installing bollards at the openings of bike lanes to keep drivers out. Said enforcement of bike lanes needs to improve too.

BR: "What can we do with enforcement?"

GB: Bike lanes are being added to moratorium streets. We're revising our permit terms to strengthen enforcement. We did webinars with all of the folks who get permits. You need to ensure that create adequate detours."

@bikelaneuprise

GB: We need to look at every tool in the box. Is there camera technology that we can use? Cameras on CTA buses to enforce bus lanes.

BR: Maybe cameras on curbs to enforce these? Has been talking to Revenue about doing a pilot.

BR: We're seeing some really dangerous situations on DLSD at Randolph/Balbo, drivers running reds, I know the bicycle community has been out there doing actions. Can we raise these pedestrian Xwalks and make an actually physical barrier?
@Segway_Ruins @bikegridnow @chi_streets

GB: I hear you, we've been in communications with IDOT about doing more. We really need to do more.

Ald. Ervin: We've got to do a better job about educating the public about the need and necessity of these bike lanes. Notes in Garfield Park on weekends PBLs are filled with cars.

JE: Says "hypervocal" citizens who are probike have been asking him to do more to keep bike lanes clear.

There sure have been a lot of references from alders to hearing from bike advocates! 👍
@bikelaneuprise @activetrans @bikegridnow @chi_streets @ChiCritMass

.@AldermanBurnett asks about getting a new Brown Line station at Division/Orleans, calls it a social justice issue. Says 'L' stops were taken out when public housing was built in the urban renewal era to enforce segregation.

GB: I talked to CTA and they're interested in this.

WB: Said lots of new housing is coming to the area, so the new station would pay for itself in ridership, and would quiet trains going by houses. Says the city could use TIF funds, says local TIF is one of the healthiest in the city.

.@40thforward Discusses the challenge of creating a bike network piecemeal. Thinks maybe the mayor has to do this top-down, announcing a vision for a citywide bike grid. Notes there have been a lot of problems on Clark Street.

AV: 1. Do you support increasing tickets for parking in bike lanes?

2. When will concrete protection be added to Clark in Edgewater? I get hammered by urbanists about this on an hourly basis.

GB: 1. Whatever works.

2. Concrete strike delayed us, but we want to do this this fall.

AV: Asks about putting BRT on Western Avenue.

GB: Says the number of bus lanes will be doubling.
Says there are many different competing needs on Western.

AV asks for meeting with CDOT/CTA on this. "I know the @CTA president doesn't like showing up, but we do." #Shade

Ald. Jeanette Taylor: Notes that flexible plastic posts used for bike lanes etc. tend to get run over and destroyed. The bumpouts are ugly.

GB: Agreed, that's why we're switching to concrete, it's more effective and durable.

Taylor says she's gotten complaints from neighbors that speed humps bring down property values. (?!) Asks if there are any studies to disprove that. Says she requires 75% of residents to sign on.

GB: Points out the obvious: Slower speeds make streets safer/nicer to live on.

.@AldermanLaSpata repeats the concern that CDOT staffers are doing good work, but there aren't enough staffers to do the work.

"The 1st Ward is a safer, more beautiful community thanks to all of the work that your team has done."

Ald. Coleman complained about new pedestrian islands installed on 63rd Street as part of Vision Zero efforts, says old ped islands aren't being well maintained and sidewalks and streets need to be repaired. says outsiders are coming in and tellings residents what they need.

Ald. Dowell says she's looking for solutions for traffic calming downtown on Roosevelt during special events. Mentions CDOT installed a raised crosswalk in one location, but it doesn't see to be effective.

OK, that's the hearing. We'll have a writeup soon.