A Traffic Safety Commitment for Chicago's West Side

Transportation planning will take on a much more safety-oriented focus according to the West Side Vision Zero Traffic Safety Plan announced last week.

1 minute read

September 16, 2019, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Street Construction

Not good enough. | Steve Hamann / Shutterstock

The city of Chicago has a new West Side Vision Zero Traffic Safety Plan, reports John Greenfield, who calls the new plan a milestone for the city's crash prevention policies.

Here's how Greenfield describes the plan's substance:

The Vision Zero West Side Plan includes 15 strategies to improve traffic and pedestrian safety in East and West Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Austin. The recommendations include safety improvements around transit stations; efforts to promote walking and biking to school and make it safer; the installation of pedestrian islands and other walking infrastructure and curb extensions in other locations in the communities, and a street remix for the pedestrian-hostile “Five Corners” intersection of Ogden, Pulaski and Cermak.

The article includes a lot of statements from officials to summarize the goals and expected results of the new plan, as well as a discussion by Greenfield of where the new plan fits into the context of the city's larger Vision Zero efforts since the city released its initial Vision Zero Chicago Action Plan in 2017. 

Thursday, September 12, 2019 in Streetsblog Chicago

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

September 16, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Passengers board an Amtrak train under a cloudy sky.

Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement

The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.

September 18, 2026 - Mass Transit

The Gross Reservoir, a large body of water surrounded by trees and mountains.

Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion

Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.

September 18, 2026 - Inside Climate News

A painted bus lane in NYC.

NYC DOT wants faster, more permanent street upgrades

The city is examining ways to build more concrete infrastructure without getting entangled in 'decades-long' projects.

September 21 - NYC Streetsblog

A woman looks at a utility bill.

'Something we’ve never seen before:' rising utility rates could strain city finances nationwide

Data centers, climate change and other factors have caused utility rates in the United States to increase by 38% since 2020.

September 21 - Smart Cities Dive

A person scuba diving in a coral reef off Guam.

Trump to overrule local leaders, lease millions of acres of America’s Pacific Island territories’ seafloors to mining companies

International law says that the Indigenous people of America’s territories have a right to prior and informed consent regarding projects that impact their countries.

September 21 - Grist