Hello,
Our office is proud to announce the installation of new traffic calming measures on Ashland Ave between this week and next. Over the past couple of years, Alderman Martin has been pushing the Department of Transportation (CDOT) to implement measures that slow vehicles making left turns across pedestrian crosswalks. CDOT has agreed to pilot left turn softening measures at the following intersections:
- Ashland & Cullom
- Ashland & Montrose
- Ashland & Sunnyside
- Ashland & Wilson
Yesterday, crews installed hardened centerlines at these intersections. These consist of rubber speed humps and plastic posts placed on either side of a crosswalk in the center of the street. These centerlines encourage drivers to make wider left turns, which serves to slow vehicles and improve pedestrian visibility in crosswalks. During a previous CDOT pilot of these improvements in River North, CDOT found that they increased the share of drivers yielding to pedestrians from 80% to 98%. Please refer to the attached PDF for more information on these measures.
Next week, crews will also be installing paint-and-post bump-outs at all four intersections to encourage wider turns near sidewalks and further slow vehicle speeds.
These improvements are part of Alderman Martin’s ongoing efforts to improve safety for pedestrians throughout the ward, including along major arterials. Our office has heard about safety concerns regarding all four of the intersections above, including from parents walking children to and from the Gardner School on Wilson.
Best,
Joshua Mark (he/him/his)
Director of Development and Infrastructure
47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin4243 N. Lincoln Ave
