Chicago Pedestrian Plan meetings now underway

To make walking easier, safer and more inviting in Chicago, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is holding a series meetings to solicit input from residents. The input will be used in creating the city's pedestrian plan. The first of these meetings was held last Wednesday in the Little Village neighborhood.

Community residents assembled for the meeting in Farragut High School to voice their opinions and concerns about a variety of pedestrian issues. Transportation planners and the new commissioner of CDOT, Gabe Klein, briefly spoke about the goals of the Chicago Pedestrian Plan and how residents can get involved. The organizers then opened up the floor to neighbors.

Local residents had the unique opportunity to have a one-on-one conversation with CDOT staff about streets that made them feel unsafe and what could be done to make improvements.

Active Trans had a table at the event promoting the Better Blocks workshops and showing different examples of innovative built infrastructure like protected bike lanes, raised medians and curb bumpouts.

There are four more Pedestrian Plan meetings: July 13, July 27, Aug. 10 and Aug. 24. Each meeting will feature a short presentation from CDOT and an open house with representatives from CDOT and other agencies and groups that work on pedestrian issues.

Here's some coverage of the meeting by our friends at Grid Chicago.