How the city helps keep pedestrians safe

By Daniel Patton | Managing Editor

Concern over potential collisions between automobiles and pedestrians at certain neighborhood traffic lights, crosswalks and intersections dominated the comments of attendees at a recent CAPS meeting in the 42nd Ward.

A New Eastside resident described the insufficient lighting, inferior design and impending sense of disaster on Columbus Avenue between the Fairmont Hotel and CVS, just north of the location where two streets emerge from the lower infrastructure. Another mentioned gouges in the sidewalk at Columbus and Randolph. A third expressed gratitude that a crack in the walkway of the Columbus Drive Bridge had been repaired.

A Chicago Police officer at the meeting indicated that she had made and submitted reports of some of the residents’ concerns to the Chicago Department of Transportation — which bears responsibility for inspecting, analyzing and, ideally, fixing the flaws. She also also said that she would forward reports about any additional concerns to CDOT.

As a result, she continued, CDOT has and will launch traffic studies into a couple of the locations.

CDOT traffic studies generally take six to nine months to complete, the officer explained. The best way for a resident to initiate a study is by contacting CDOT directly and providing the exact location and, if possible, photographs of the area of concern.

CPD officers offered their help to residents who wished to initiate reports of additional pedestrian and traffic safety issues to CDOT.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Alderman Reilly’s office offered similar assistance.

The Chicago Department of Transportation can be reached at (312) 744-3600 or cityofchicago.org/transportation.