Ald. Sposato says feedback on proposed bike network ‘overwhelmingly’ positive at community open house 

by BRIAN NADIG

Feedback on proposed bike lanes and neighborhood greenways for several side and arterial streets in Portage Park and Jefferson Park was “overwhelmingly” positive during a March 5 community open house, according to Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th).

More than 200 people attended the event hosted by the city Department of Transportation, as there were long lines to enter the Portage Park Senior Center, 4100 N. Long Ave. Attendees could give input and ask questions as they toured the exhibits on the proposed bike network.

Sposato said that about 75 percent of the impacted area falls into his ward and the rest in the 30th and 45th wards and that he plans to withhold his thumbs up for the project until he gets a department debriefing on the input from the open house.

Sposato added that he would want assurances from department that there would be no new neighborhood traffic circles (small-sized roundabouts) as part of the project and no new speed humps, unless residents of the impacted block supported it. Traffic circles and speed humps are sometimes used as traffic calming devices as part of neighborhood greenways, which are designed to increase safety for all roadway users.

“It is a very controversial thing,” Sposato said of speed humps. He estimated that nearly half of the speed humps installed in the ward since he’s been alderman had to be removed due to noise and other complaints.

Alderman James Gardiner (45th) said that he is still reviewing the proposal and feedback from the community but that many residents were relieved to learn at the open house that parking would not be removed from in front of their home as a result of the project.

“All this is is they’re painting the street,” Sposato said, adding that he hopes the project would be funded for maintenance. The stripes and other roadway markings would have to repainted at least every other year, he said.

The proposed bike network would cover an area primarily bounded by Laramie Avenue on the east, Gunnison Street on the north, Nagle/Narragansett Avenue on the west and Addison Street on the south.

In some instances the new bike and greenway lanes would connect to existing ones.

The design of neighborhood greenways can vary by community, based on factors such as traffic flow and the width of the street. Greenways can include enhanced signage and traffic calming devices such as curb extensions and speed humps.

Greenways also can feature shared bike and vehicle lanes and contraflow bike lanes, the latter of which can allow two-way bike traffic on a one-way street. Another possibility is advisory bike lanes, which allow cars to sometimes drive in a portion of the bike lane when safe due the narrowness of the street.

The proposed greenways would be installed on Sunnyside Avenue between Milwaukee Avenue and Nagle, Berteau Avenue between Milwaukee and Nagle, Melvina Avenue Avenue between Addison and Gunnison, Menard Avenue between Berteau and Lawrence Avenue, and Long Avenue between Irving Park Road and Lawrence.

Sposato said that safety enhancements due to speeding and other issues are needed on some of these streets. “Sunnyside is out of control, and people told me Berteau is about just as bad.”

A neighborhood greenway already exists on Long between Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave., and Chopin Park, 3420 N. Long Ave., in the 30th Ward.

Over the years some residents have expressed concern about riding their bikes on major thoroughfares due to the high volume of vehicular traffic and said that they often seek out side streets for their bike rides.

The proposal also calls for the installation of bike lanes, which include extensions of some existing bike lanes, along Central Avenue between Addison and Lawrence, Laramie between Addison and Sunnyside, and Montrose Avenue between Central and Nagle.

There are no plans to install barrier protected bike lanes as part of the project, according to the department.

The proposal is still in its planning stages, and final design would be based on input from residents and the alderpersons.

It’s doubtful that the project could be implemented this year, Sposato said.

At least 25 percent of the attendees at the open house were from outside the affected area, Sposato said. He added that input from residents living within the designated area should have the greatest say in the matter.

Editor’s note: William Swanson continued to this report.

(photo by William Swanson)

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