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Coalition calls for halting NDLSD redesign project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Ted Villaire
Active Transportation Alliance
(312) 563-1118
ted@activetrans.org

 

Coalition calls for halting NDLSD redesign project to ensure that it supports climate and multimodal transportation goals

A broader vision is needed to ensure that this once-in-a-generation project meets the mobility and climate-related needs of the city and the region

 

Chicago, IL – July 22, 2024 – A coalition of organizations dedicated to sustainable transportation, regional planning, and environmental justice has issued a strong statement opposing the current plans for rebuilding North DuSable Lake Shore Drive (NDLSD) as proposed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and its project team.

The coalition emphasizes that the project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine the lakefront and address critical challenges facing the city and region. However, they argue that the current proposal largely maintains the status quo, missing a crucial chance to create a more sustainable and accessible future.

 

Key Concerns

The advocacy groups highlight several key concerns with the current proposal:

  • Missed Opportunity for Sustainability: The proposed rebuild fails to significantly reduce transportation-related climate impacts and pollution. The City of Chicago has established a Climate Action Plan which sets a target for 45% of all trips to be taken by walking, biking, transit, or other non-car modes by 2040. We do not believe the proposal will help us achieve these goals.
  • Lack of Holistic Planning: The anticipated plan does not integrate dedicated lanes for transit improvements along the entire corridor or consider the impact of new and planned lakefront developments. This holistic approach is crucial for serving people poorly served by the existing transportation and park system, including individuals with disabilities, older adults, and young people.
  • Ignoring Public and Leadership Input: Despite years of planning, the project team has not adequately addressed residents’ requests for improved transit and enhanced non-automotive mobility options. Thousands of residents and numerous elected leaders have called for a comprehensive vision that prioritizes sustainable transportation and environmental protection.

 

Calls to Action

The coalition is urging leaders to take the following actions:

  1. Pause the Current Planning Process: IDOT should not present a “preferred alternative” at the planned August 8 public meeting. The Illinois General Assembly and more than a dozen Chicago City Council members have already expressed opposition to the current trajectory of the project.
  2. Restart with a Broader Vision: The planning process should be restarted with a broader vision for the entire lakefront, led by an entity like Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development. This new approach should fully develop the community’s long-term vision for the lakefront before proceeding with planning and engineering.
  3. Support Climate and Transportation Goals: The project should explicitly support city and regional goals to reduce carbon pollution and double transit ridership. IDOT’s own survey data indicates that 60% of NDLSD drivers would take transit if it were more reliable and frequent, highlighting the potential for a significant shift to sustainable transportation options.
  4. Commit to an Accelerated Timeline: Given the project’s scale, a clear timeline for a reinvigorated planning process is essential to avoid another decade of engagement and discussion.

 

Coalition’s Vision

The coalition organizations are committed to supporting a new vision for the lakefront and the NDLSD project. They believe that with visionary leadership, the city can seize this moment to create a more sustainable, accessible, and vibrant lakefront for all residents.

The coalition is comprised of:

 

Access Living 

Active Transportation Alliance 

Better Streets Chicago 

Center for Neighborhood Technology 

Chicago Bike Grid Now! 

Clean Power Lake County 

Commuters Take Action 

Environmental Law and Policy Center 

Equiticity

Illinois Green New Deal Coalition

Metropolitan Planning Council 

North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council 

Promontory Point Conservancy

Sierra Club Chicago 

Urban Environmentalists

Urban Planning and Policy Student Association at UIC

(More organizations are currently in the process of joining this coalition.)

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