There is no pedestrian passage between Truman College and Wilson Yard, forcing long walking detours to either Wilson Avenue or Montrose Avenue for residents, students, staff, and shoppers.  Wrap-up of construction makes this a perfect time to fix a problem created by the failure to adequately engage the surrounding community in the planning process.

Construction of Truman College's new McKeon Building and parking structure, along with CTA's construction of little-used, wrought-iron-fenced employee parking under the Red Line elevated structure between Wilson Avenue and Montrose Avenue, blocks pedestrian access to Wilson Yard's retail stores for Uptown residents west of the Red Line, and for students and staff at Truman College.  People in this area who wish to conduct business at Wilson Yard's Target, Aldi, and smaller stores and restaurants must make blocks-long detours to access those businesses, discouraging shopping and pedestrian traffic.  A significant portion of the Wilson Yard TIF District, which provided significant funding for construction of both the Wilson Yard development and the Truman College McKeon Building, lies to the west of the Red Line, effectively isolating that part of the neighborhood from Wilson Yard, and the neighborhood east of the Red Line from Truman College.  The taxpayers of the TIF district should be able to take advantage of their investments without suffering through extensive and unnecessary detours.

Opening pedestrian passage around Truman College's McKeon Building and through CTA property to connect Wilson Yard and Truman College is simple and inexpensive.  All property is owned by public entities--Chicago City Colleges and CTA.  Existing sidewalks can be extended from Truman's plaza (between the old building and the McKeon Building) and from the corner of Clifton and Sunnyside to permit walking around the south and east sides of the McKeon Building.  CTA can easily make pedestrian openings in the wrought iron fencing and re-mark the parking to create a pedestrian opening at the foot of Sunnyside Avenue as it goes west from Broadway between Target and Aldi.  These two simple actions will create pedestrian access, increase Truman Yard business and foot traffic, and decrease auto traffic in the neighborhood.

The residents, businesses, students, workers, and visitors of Uptown ask for a pedestrian walkway to easily and quickly walk between the Truman College area and the Wilson Yard development.