Project Includes New Protected Bike Lanes, Providing Key Low-Stress Connection to Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Gia Biagi and 1 st Ward Alderman Daniel La Spata, Chair of the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety, today announced the completion of a traffic safety improvement project on Augusta Boulevard in the Ukrainian Village and West Town neighborhoods that will help reduce crashes and increase safety for people walking, biking, and driving. The Complete Streets project, which spans from Western Avenue to Milwaukee Avenue, includes new protected bike lanes, better designed intersections that increase visibility for people walking and biking, shortened pedestrian crossing distances, and a lowered speed limit to 20 miles per hour.
The project is already resulting in safety benefits for everyone using the street. Initial data collection by CDOT indicates a 35 percent decrease in people driving more than 30 mph, while the number of people driving below 20 mph has increased by 29 percent. Driver speed is one of the leading factors influencing the likelihood and severity of crashes, with studies showing that a person hit by a car traveling at 35 miles per hour is five times more likely to die than a person hit by a car traveling at 20 mph.
“Investing in pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure not only increases safety, but also improves quality of life by connecting neighborhoods and promoting healthy living," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “I’m grateful for the partnership with CDOT to implement improvements along this key corridor, and […]
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