CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The Chicago Department of Transportation's vision for the future of the city's streets covers everything from traffic cameras to outdoor dining.
On Thursday, The Chicago Department of Transportation released a 79-page “Strategic Plan for Transportation” described as the “nation’s first urban transportation plan developed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.”
The overarching goal of the plan is a city in which it is cheaper and easier to get around without a car. It contains 84 "strategies" that examine traffic flow, traffic light timing, and speed enforcement cameras.
The planners want to make public transportation, biking, and electric scooters easier and more affordable so that people don't have to rely on their cars to get around.
According to the Metropolitan Planning Council, about a third of city residents don't have a car.
Audrey Wennink, director of transportation for the Metropolitan Planning Council, said the sweeping plan “does a really good job of reflecting Chicago’s many and diverse” transportation needs — from “mass transit to walkability and traffic safety.”
She added: “I like the fact that it recognizes how important affordability is to people. That almost a third of the city of Chicago’s residents don’t have cars. Thinking about making an affordable system that people can walk. That’s free. And bike. That’s inexpensive. And take transit that’s affordable. That’s really important. Making sure there are a lot of options to get around without a car.”
The transportation plan would make permanent the outdoor dining arrangements that popped up during the pandemic and looks at using city streets for more outdoor business opportunities.
Related
