Complete Streets 2024 Highlights
Complete Streets Highlights - 2024
2024 was an extraordinary year for CDOT's Complete Streets projects! Thanks to the support of our amazing community partners, we’ve made significant strides in transforming Chicago’s streets to be safer, more accessible, and inviting for everyone.
Using a toolbox of innovative street design elements, we’re setting a new standard for Chicago’s streets. In 2024, we upgraded hundreds of intersections and miles of road, including the installation of over 31 miles of low-stress bikeways and over 65 bus boarding islands citywide. Together, we’re building a brighter, safer future for everyone who walks, rides, and drives in our city.
Explore highlights of our progress below.
Traffic Safety Highlights
CDOT published the Chicago Traffic Crashes Annual Report. The report includes analyses of 2023 traffic crash data, details on how data informs CDOT's traffic safety investment strategy, and key outcomes of infrastructure programs.
Bikeways Highlights
CDOT has completed a record year for bikeways, installing over 15 miles of protected bike lanes and nearly 16 miles of neighborhood greenways. As of year-end 2024, Chicago's cycling network contains 478 miles of bike facilities.
Protected Bike Lane Highlights
Protected bike lanes have been installed on South Halsted Street from Pershing Road to 59th Street.
The Clark Street facility has been named as one of 2024's Best New U.S. Bikeways by People for Bikes. The downtown bike network is expanding with the completion of protected bike lanes on these two key north-south corridors.
Protected bike lanes and transit improvements have been installed as part of the first phase of this CDOT Streetscape project.
Milwaukee Avenue Projects
A number of in-progress and upcoming projects on Milwaukee Avenue will fill gaps in the cycling network and establish lower stress facilities.
Neighborhood Greenway Highlights
CDOT has completed a key east-west connection between the Lakefront Trail and the North Shore Channel Trail.
This segment extends the existing Kilbourn greenway further north to connect major routes and neighborhood destinations like Klbourn Park and Kelvyn Park.
Construction has been completed on the bulk of the greenway. When completed, the route will connect with an existing bikeway to the east of Clark Street, creating a lower-stress connection across neighborhoods.
Pedestrian Program Highlights
Left Turn Traffic Calming (LTTC) treatments are simple intersection upgrades that boost pedestrian safety and result in safter turning behaviors from drivers. By the end of 2024, LTTC was installed at 70 Chicago intersections, with more than 30 additional locations planned for 2025.
School Zone Highlights
Under CDOT's School Zone Improvement effort, schools and surrounding areas are selected for pedestrian safety improvements based on crash analysis, community input, and consideration for how these well these upgrades will work within the context of the existing streets. CDOT has implemented this strategy at 10 schools.
Kelly High School improvements include a new mid-block raised crosswalk across the 4100 block of South California Ave, connecting the academic building to its sports field and the new Rockwell Neighborhood Greenway.
The school zone project at Portage Park Elementary features a raised intersection at Berteau Ave and Long Ave, connecting the school campus to Portage Park proper.
Bump-outs at the corner of 78th St and Calumet Ave facilitate safer crossing for families at Ruggles Elementary School.
Transit Project Highlights
A project is underway on 79th Street from State to Cottage Grove, including bus bulbs and pedestrian improvements. These infrastructure upgrades are designed ito improve pedestrian safety and transit efficiency on an essential transit corridor.
CDOT has installed bus lanes on Chicago Avenue from Western to Grand, with the goal of improving service on this high-traffic route. Providing dedicated travel lanes for buses means smoother transit operations and fewer delays caused by merging in and out of traffic at service stops.
Citywide, CDOT has now installed over 120 bus boarding islands with 66 of those locations installed in 2024. Similar to a curb a bump-out, bus boarding islands increase visibility and reduce crossing distances for people walking and increase transit efficiency by eliminating the need for a bus to merge into a travel lane from the stop.