Overview
- City officials plan to begin the next phase this year on a one-mile stretch of Grand Avenue between Ogden and Damen with protected bike lanes, bus boarding islands and pedestrian upgrades, following a first phase completed in 2024.
- Local businesses and residents rallied against the plan, warning of lost parking, slower buses, impeded emergency access and potential harm to small shops; Alliance Bakery’s owner said he would not have opened there had he known about the project.
- Opponents are demanding a pause until 24/7 emergency vehicle access is guaranteed, a study of bus impacts is done, protections against CTA slowdowns are in place and parking assurances are provided.
- Ald. Daniel La Spata’s office says the core design is finalized after 2023 community meetings and that staff remain in contact to discuss construction logistics, while organizers dispute the outreach and say they declined a meeting once a full redesign was ruled out.
- CDOT cites safety goals on a corridor with high vehicle speeds and crashes and points to phase-one outcomes that include fewer traffic injuries and increased bike ridership.