Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Alderpersons join legislative call on IDOT to rethink DuSable Lake Shore Drive plans

Posted in:

Illinois

A group of alderpeople want the state to pump the brakes on plans to redesign DuSable Lake Shore Drive and instead find ways to prioritize public transit on the city’s most famous road.

Fourteen alderpeople have signed a letter to Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman and Chicago Department of Transportation President Tom Carney, asking the state to “halt” its Redefine the Drive project, which calls for redesigning and rebuilding DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Grand to Hollywood avenues on the North Side.

A final design for the decade-plus project has yet to be determined. Roadway configurations were released by the state in 2022, with two of five possible designs calling for bus-only lanes.

But each of the proposals would maintain the Drive as as “an urban highway without significant mass transit elements,” alderpeople said in the letter.

The 14 alderpeople, in partnership with transit advocacy group Bike Grid Now, want the proposals scrapped in favor of a new one centered around bus-rapid transit, including bus-only lanes or a light rail system along the lakefront. […]

Those who signed the letter include Alds. Daniel La Spata (1st), Byron Sigcho-Lopez (25th), Ruth Cruz (30th), Scott Waguespack (32nd), Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (35th), Andre Vasquez (40th), Brendan Reilly (42nd), Timmy Knudsen (43rd), Bennett Lawson (44th), Angela Clay (46th), Matt Martin (47th), Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th), Maria Hadden (49th) and Debra Silverstein (50th).

* This House resolution passed unanimously last month…

Urges CDOT and IDOT to transform Du Sable Lake Shore Drive into a true boulevard and to be creative and forward-thinking in their redesign of Du Sable Lake Shore Drive, to incorporate safe and efficient multimodal transportation throughout Du Sable Lake Shore Drive for pedestrians, cyclists, public transit users, and drivers, to emphasize green urban mobility, to ensure that any proposed changes are considered as part of a comprehensive plan for efficient traffic management and movement of people, including during special events and weather challenges, to create more green space and recreational opportunities for Chicagoans, as well as visitors, and to repurpose, where possible, existing infrastructure as part of expanded recreational opportunities.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:47 am

Comments

The idea of “bus only” lanes is reminiscent of when the Congress Superhighway (now the Eisenhower) was built and trains were put in the median. Everyone thought it was a great idea at the time. But it moved transit from the neighborhoods to the middle of an expressway that divided the neighborhoods up.

The idea of mixing pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers onto DuSable LSD sounds like a problem waiting to happen.

Does there need to be more access to the Lakefront? Yes, no question about that.

Comment by Jerry Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 10:59 am
driven around the north and nw side of Chicago lately? the kennedy under construction means JBPDLSD is a welcome alternative for cars. also try driving to a hospital appointment if one highway is under construction and the narrowing of the further east alternative happens. build more bridges to the lakefront Leave the road alone

Comment by Amalia Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:03 am
Maybe they can get a monorail for LSD? Mayor Quimby will love it.

Comment by Frida's boss Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:20 am
Removing the stoplight at Chicago Avenue would be a huge first step in alleviating congestion on DuSable.

Comment by Former Downstater Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:43 am
If they are trying to get people not to drive on LSD because they are anti-car, the end result will be people taking side streets to get north and south which is would be more dangerous for pedestrians and bikers.

Comment by Chicagonk Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:45 am
If we’re going to have any chance of mitigating climate change, we’ve got to get serious about making mass transit a much better alternative than driving. Good for those alderpeople for being willing to stand up for better transit!

Comment by KBS Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 11:46 am
The Inner Drive provides access to bus transport via the #151 going north and south. Passengers board along Michigan Avenue, along Inner Lake Shore Drive and continue north on Clark. The #151 also travels to Lincoln Park Zoo and continues north and south. Express busses with no local stops travel on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Transferring all busses to DSLSD would eliminate local access for many neighborhoods. Unlike Rev. Acree, many of us use public transportation.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 12:00 pm
Aliotta Haynes Jerimiah don’t want the redesign plan either, and they ain’t too happy about the name change, messes up the rhythm.

Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 12:20 pm
To borrow from Fergie and the Black Eyed Peas, urban highways are so 2000 and late. Nice to see some leadership (cough Hochul cough) thinking about the cherished lakefront’s next 50 years instead of how they can make sure their driving commute is two minutes shorter.

Comment by P. Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 1:06 pm
==Maybe they can get a monorail for LSD? Mayor Quimby will love it.==
We are much smarter than Shelbyville… tell us your idea and we will vote for it.

Comment by Vote Quimby Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 2:15 pm
Driving DSLSD is my regular commute because transit would take me at least twice as long. I would gladly give up the traffic, stress, and expense in favor of a reliable express bus or light rail option.

Comment by Change Agent Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 2:16 pm
We have a once in a generation opportunity to shift the transportation paradigm along the lakefront. We don’t need a loud, dirty, dangerous moat between the city and the lake. DLSD is a deadly traffic generator.

Comment by In Bridgeport Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 3:06 pm
Many car service drivers (Uber, Lyft) follow maps on their phones and are directed to DSLSD when they could easily take an alternate route. An accident waiting to happen is when travelers going north and not aware of the Chicago Ave.exit on the left. Some cut across three lanes of traffic nearly causing an accident.

There are many options for leaving Streeterville/ River North that don’t involve DSLSD.

Comment by Rudy’s teeth Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 3:45 pm
We should let professional urban planners make these decisions, not an advocacy group that asked a bunch of politicians to add their name to a letter.

Comment by Just Me 2 Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 4:04 pm
===professional urban planners===

Not all professional urban planners are created equal. Look at what Robert Moses wrought.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Jun 7, 24 @ 4:24 pm