Making Kedzie Ave. better for biking and walking

With help from a new upcoming study, Kedzie Ave. in East Garfield Park may become a better place for biking, walking and transit.

The Garfield Park Community Council was recently awarded a grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to do a study on Kedzie Ave. The study will look at ways of creating a safer, more attractive neighborhood that provides greater mobility to residents and visitors to access CTA and bus facilities, businesses, schools, parks and other destinations within the neighborhood.

The primary focus will be the existing CTA transit facilities serving the Kedzie corridor, including the Kedzie Green Line station, the #52 Kedzie/California bus and the #20 Madison bus, with additional consideration of pedestrian and bicycle facilities, local roads and the surrounding streetscape.

The study is the result of an effort that started a couple years ago when community residents came together over a shared concern for the safety of people biking and walking in the area.

To help address problems like broken a traffic signal, faded crosswalks, vacant lots and a lack of bike lanes, the community enlisted help from Better Blocks — an Active Trans program that works with residents in underserved neighborhoods to pursue changes that will make streets more inviting for people walking and cycling.

The Kedzie Corridor Steering Committee will host a public meeting for residents to learn about recent outreach efforts and suggestions made by the community. There will also be an opportunity for residents to add input about the plan and process. The meeting will be held May 8 at Marshall High School, 3205 W. Adams at 6 p.m.

Image courtesy of the CTA.