Chicago's New Strategic Plan for Transportation Prioritizes Equity and Accountability

The plan calls for safer streets, more equitable distribution of resources, and expanded community engagement.

1 minute read

August 1, 2021, 5:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Chicago Transit

JW_PNW / Shutterstock

Chicago officials revealed the city's new Strategic Plan for Transportation, which they say "will help promote social equity and public safety," reports John Greenfield. According to Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the plan "will help lower the economic and environmental burden of transportation on our residents and prioritize investments in underserved communities."

Janette Sadik-Khan, former New York City transportation chief and part of the Bloomberg Associates team that assisted with the CDOT plan, said "[t]here are detailed strategies with benchmarks," calling the document "more than just a promise; it’s a detailed blueprint for getting it done."

The strategic plan includes "84 strategies and hundreds of one-to-three-year targets that CDOT says will help build safer streets; prioritize improving transportation options for residents in low-income communities; expand transit access; and provide bus lanes, bikeways, and bike-share across the entire city." City officials say "CDOT and CNT are working on a process to identify communities with the greatest economic and mobility challenges, so that these neighborhoods can be prioritized for transportation upgrades."

CDOT commissioner Gia Biagi "promised that the plan will lead to transportation projects that 'center equity,' with 'more transparency and and accountability,' and which will help to 'break the cycle of intergenerational poverty in underserved communities by connecting residents with educational and job opportunities."

Thursday, July 22, 2021 in Streetsblog Chicago

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