Hi all,

Thank you for signing my petition last summer to keep 57th St. one-way between Lake Park and Stony Island. At the time of my last update in September, the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement had issued this statement, which made it clear that while Alderman Leslie Hairston refused the plan at that time, the idea is not dead, particularly given that Alderman Hairston is not standing for re-election. 

The University of Chicago declined to share the full traffic study, but it was later won from the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. You can read the full study here.

Chicago’s next Consolidated Municipal Election is February 28, 2023. 785 people (mostly local residents) have signed the petition to keep 57th St. one-way. This is clearly an important issue to those of us living (and voting) in the 5th Ward. 

There are several candidates running to be our next 5th Ward alderman. You can view the current list here.

I emailed the candidates briefing them on this issue and asking where they stand. Here are their responses, which I have summarized in some cases for the sake of brevity:

Wallace Goode: “DEFINITELY keep it one way.” 

Jocelyn Hare: Fully supports keeping 57th a one-way street in accordance with community wishes, and is committed to working with us to ensure that residents’ voices come first. She has worked closely with the Office of Civic Engagement in her role at the Harris School of Public Policy, and is confident that we can work together to come up with a better solution that doesn’t prioritize vehicles over pedestrians.

Tina Hone: Will not support a change opposed by the community. She plans to have relationships with all condo, co-op, and townhouse associations in the Ward and all the Block Clubs, and plans to meet with all of them in the first 90 days of her tenure. She would also talk to businesses on 57th St. as well as the University of Chicago, to understand their views and determine if there is any possible win-win. That said, the voters are who she represents first and foremost. She believes that any issue caused by the one-way street is caused by the Obama Presidential Center, and doesn’t think it’s fair to disrupt the community because of traffic pressures not caused by the community.

Dee Perkins: Has reviewed the arguments from both sides and sees the pros and cons for each. That said, she is inclined to support whatever the community wants.

Gabriel Piemonte: Supports not only keeping 57th St. one-way but also structurally adjusting the south throughway of the viaduct in such a way as to create permanent outdoor space, such as a mini-piazza. He sent photos with ideas for how to use the space.

I did not receive a response from Marlene Fisher, Joshua Gray, Kris Levy, Robert Palmer, Renita Ward, or Desmon Yancy.

Thanks again for supporting this cause, and be sure to vote on February 28!