Alderman Reilly introduces measure to remove Kinzie protected bike lane

EDIT: The current proposal by Alderman Reilly (with link to PDF) is here: https://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=2262355&...

EDIT 2: The original ordinance passed to approve the planned Wolf Point development.  Language about temporarily moving the PBL from Kinze to Grand, subject to review by the Chicago DOT, is at paragraph 22:

https://gisapps.cityofchicago.org/gisimages/zoning_pds/PD98.pdf

From the Sun-Times:

http://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/7/71/522067/brendan-re...

A week after helping Mayor Rahm Emanuel get re-elected, downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) is doing battle with the mayor’s handpicked transportation commissioner over protected bike lanes on Kinzie Street.

Reilly introduced an ordinance Wednesday that seeks to compel Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld to remove the protected bike lane on Kinzie “as required” by the planned development governing Wolf Point.

It clearly states that the protected bike lane “must be removed” from Kinzie before a certificate of occupancy is awarded for the first building of that massive development, he said.

But, Reilly said Scheinfeld is considering using her “commissioner’s authority to ignore that directive” agreed to by her predecessor, hammered out with area residents and approved by the Chicago Plan Commission.

“The intent of this ordinance is to require her to remove it so that there’s no question it must be done,” the alderman said.

Reilly said “traffic congestion concerns” demand that the protected bike lane be removed. Reilly’s ordinance would require the city to remove the protected bike lane — along with “all associated signage, markings or barriers” — from the portion of West Kinzie Street between Dearborn and the west bank of the Chicago River.

“Kinzie is a very busy street. With the added density of some, close to 2 million square feet of occupied space on Wolf Point, there’ll be a lot more traffic. Traffic studies suggested that a bike lane should be removed to allow for proper traffic flow and safety, and the commissioner is now second-guessing that,” he said.

“Each point in this planned development was negotiated with the neighbors and other stakeholders. And when this was approved as a project, people were relying on this obligation. In effect, the commissioner’s refusal to honor the planned development and its obligation is . . . an act in bad faith when neighbors and others in the area were promised this would happen.”

Scheinfeld could not be reached for comment about Reilly’s charge or the ordinance he introduced that seeks to tie her hands. CDOT spokesman Mike Claffey had no immediate comment.

Behind the scenes, Scheinfeld has argued that CDOT did an internal study that suggests “it would not be safe to move these lanes from Kinzie to Grand Avenue,” the alderman said.

Reilly doesn’t buy that argument on grounds it was “not a professional study.”


“I have a professional consultant that was engaged by the Wolf Point developer to install bike lanes on Grand saying this would actually be safer than the Kinzie Street bike lanes that exist today,” Reilly said.

Reilly noted that “hundreds” of cyclists use Grand Avenue every day without incident. That’s why he doesn’t believe Scheinfeld’s safety argument.

The alderman said he’s a fan of protected bike lanes and they’re “prolific” throughout the 42nd Ward because he is a “strong supporter.” But, he argued that protected lanes “make sense in certain areas and in others they don’t”

“I’m telling you, we’re adding a tremendous amount of density to Wolf Point and there’s only two ways to get there: Orleans and Kinzie. So, I don’t believe the commissioner should be able to arbitrarily decide where she wants to honor planned development obligations,” he said.

Reilly’s political pull with Emanuel has never been higher.

He served as a key campaign surrogate who blasted Jesus “Chuy” Garcia’s decision to punt the question of revenues needed to solve the combined $30 billion pension crisis at the city and public schools to a post-election commission.

Has the alderman taken his case directly to the mayor?

“Not yet,” Reilly said.

“I was happy to support the mayor. I hope he can appreciate that these are obligations that were negotiated with the community when the Wolf Point project was approved,” he added. “They should be honored. My constituents deserve that.”

EDIT 3: Mark Konkol at DNAinfo weighs in: https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150417/river-north/what-is-great-...

EDIT 4: Steven Vance at StreetsBlog provides thorough explanation: http://chi.streetsblog.org/2015/04/17/whats-going-on-with-alderman-...

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 17, 2015 at 3:19am

Yes, this level of density should REQUIRE greatly improved ped and bike access.

Permalink Reply by Melanie M on April 16, 2015 at 7:06am
Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on April 16, 2015 at 7:41am

Thanks!! I just signed.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Jones on April 16, 2015 at 7:52am

Signed and forwarded to my wife who uses Divvy on that street daily

Permalink Reply by Rich S on April 17, 2015 at 5:20am

Just signed the petition but I wish it wasn't worded "As a constituent living in your ward" since I don't actually live in the ward. But I do use that lane at least a few days a week. That could have been phrased better. 

Permalink Reply by morebanjo on April 17, 2015 at 5:25am

I think they address it to your alderman based on the address you fill in.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on April 17, 2015 at 5:30am

That makes no sense. Deb Mell from the 33rd ward is going to get a percentage of a petition's signatures pertaining to something that is not in her ward???  

Besides the email confirmation indicated the message would be sent to Mr. Brendan Reilly. 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on April 17, 2015 at 6:01am

The reason they want it to go to your alderman is because Alderman Reilly is introducing an ordinance that will have to be voted upon by all of the aldermen.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 16, 2015 at 7:34am

"...adding a tremendous amount of density to Wolf Point and there’s only two ways to get there: Orleans and Kinzie."

And this is EXACTLY why pedestrian and bike accommodations should be the TOP priority.

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on April 16, 2015 at 7:44am

Yes, not to mention the fact that the statement isn't true. The Wells St Brown Line stop is only like 1000 feet away.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on April 16, 2015 at 8:19am

And although I don't like the Kinzie lane as it is configured, I don't buy the alderman's logic at all.  I honestly don't know if this was the final plan, but this is from the project fact sheet at the Wolf Point proposal page:

"Parking / Traffic

 ·      Reduced parking (1,285spaces) at ratios significantly lower than comparable projects

 ·      Eliminated auto/parkingaccess from Kinzie for all phases resulting in immediate reduction of trafficon Kinize with Phase 1

 ·      Developer paid infrastructure improvements including installation of signals, pedestrian countdown signals,additional turn arrows and monitoring of signal timing"

This is a mixed use development with a lot of residential and is within walking distance of the central business district and things like a very nice Jewel at Kinzie and DesPlaines.  It would seem that walking, cycling, and public transportation would be the modes of choice.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 17, 2015 at 6:56am

Yes!!!

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