We would like to hear your thoughts and concerns about the IDOT/CDOT project to Redefine the Drive. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) have begun a study to improve North Lake Shore Drive. The study encompasses the area between Grand Avenue and Hollywood Avenue along North Lake Shore Drive. The proposed project involves improvement of seven miles of the 8-lane Lake Shore Drive boulevard, including the 12 highway junctions. Junctions are those locations where major cross streets intersect Lake Shore Drive and access is allowed to and from the Outer Drive. The project will evaluate the condition of the 22 bridges and tunnels along the Outer Drive as well as the operation of the Inner Drive. To satisfy Complete Streets requirements the study will evaluate mobility and accessibility of non-motorized travel modes along the corridor. (Redefine the Drive) To see more information: https://northdusablelakeshoredrive.org/index.html

We should not be redefining The Drive, we should be reimagining our lakefront. We can NOT rebuild a highway on our lake, especially not in the face of a global climate crisis and traffic violence epidemic across our nation.​

At the same time, the Chicago Park District is working on a new plan to revitalize Grant Park, our front yard. We want to make sure that in the 2023 Grant Park Framework Plan measures are taken to calm and limit traffic through the park while increasing pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

Our lakefront is one of Chicago’s, and our region’s, most cherished treasures and assets. We should respect it and respect all Chicagoans by investing in an active transportation corridor that provides safe access to our lake and our city.

We need new metrics for these projects so we can minimize Vehicle Miles Traveled, minimize vehicle emissions, and maximize accessibility and green space. We can do this by improving cyclist and pedestrian safety with raised bike paths and raised crosswalks, and increase access to the lakefront and parks. Maximizing access to the lakefront will require infrastructure, facilities, and programming that integrate Universal Design principles.

Adding more lanes to this highway or any highway won’t fix congestion, it hasn’t worked for decades. We need active transportation options like protected BRT or light rail which can move more people than any highway ever could.

Call on Rep. Ann Williams to:

  • Restart this flawed decade-long process

  • Eliminate the false sense of need for a highway on our lakefront.

  • Consider our climate, people, and environment when thinking about what our lakefront should look like. The current process does none of those things in a meaningful way.​

  • Continue re-imagining by bringing more green spaces and better transit to the entire lakefront, for ALL Chicagoans.