Chicago Dismantles Leland 'Slow Street' Three Months Early

Citing neighborhood concerns, the city is ending the Slow Street program on Leland Street as more parks and beaches reopen, but advocates want to see more permanent traffic calming measures.

2 minute read

September 27, 2021, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Chicago Bikers

Lissandra Melo / Shutterstock

During the pandemic, Chicago's Leland Street became a 'Slow Street,' letting residents use the space for walking, biking, and other active recreation and transportation. As John Greenfield reports, last November, the city dismantled the traffic calming infrastructure for snow plowing season, bringing it back in the spring. But "this year all of the traffic barrels and barricades were removed right after Labor Day, about three months earlier than last year. That’s despite the fact that it’s currently absolutely perfect for walking, jogging, and biking on streets where active transportation and recreation is made safer by banning motorized through traffic."

According to 46th Ward chief of staff Tressa Feher, "comments on a community survey and on Facebook indicated that 'people really like the idea of slowing [drivers] down, but there were problems with drivers not knowing where to go and the barrels getting moved around.' She went on, '[w]e want to talk to CDOT about other ways to calm traffic. If we can get better, more permanent infrastructure, I think people would really like that.'"

Although the street saw a 350 percent increase in foot traffic in 2020 during the Slow Street pilot, Alderman Matt Martin (47th) says "[t]his year, however, did not see as significant a use by pedestrians – likely due to the end of the Stay At Home order and the reopening of the lakefront, parks, and playgrounds." But advocates argue the traffic calming measures still benefit the community by encouraging bicycling and reducing car traffic.

CDOT plans to expand bike infrastructure in other parts of the city, such as the Leland Neighborhood Greenway, slated to be installed next year. "That facility will include contraflow bike lanes that will allow cycling in both directions, plus sidewalk bump-outs to shorten crossing distances, bike-friendly speed bumps, and raised crosswalks."

Friday, September 10, 2021 in Streetsblog Chicago

portrait of professional woman

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 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 Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Aerial tram moving along cable in hilly area in Medellin, Colombia.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle

Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.

1 hour ago - InTransition Magazine

Row of older brick houses in Detroit with front porches and front lawns.

Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.

With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.

3 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

July 4 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette