Chicago Advances Smart Streets, Complete Streets Ordinances

Two Chicago road safety ordinances passed the city’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety last Friday, reports Alex V. Hernandez in Block Club Chicago.

If passed by the full council on March 15, “The Smart Streets Pilot Program ordinance would use cameras on city vehicles and other infrastructure to identify drivers parked illegally in bike lanes, bus lanes and loading zones, and mail them a ticket.” 

The second ordinance, a Complete Streets initiative, would require Chicago DOT to include bike and pedestrian infrastructure in road improvement projects and standardize guidelines for bike, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure.

An article in Streetsblog Chicago by John Greenfield adds that “As with [the city’s] traffic cams, there will be a human review and judgment of each camera image, and tickets will be mailed to the registered vehicle owned in collaboration with the Chicago Department of Finance, with the fines based on the existing municipal code.” The city promises to install “clear signage” and provide a 30-day warning period before ticketing goes into effect, and CDOT has hired a new staff member “focused on community outreach who would collaborate with aldermen on education of the new law.”