Details and Renderings Emerge From Roosevelt Streetscape Meeting

Rendering of proposed raised two-way bike lane
looking East from Roosevelt/Wabash intersection (image from chi.streetsblog.org)

Just last week we posted about a community event discussing the potential streetscape improvements to Roosevelt Road.  Unfortunately we couldn't attend, but thankfully the good people at chi.streetsblog.org had an extensive recap:

At a community meeting Tuesday at Columbia College, Chicago Department of Transportation Project Director Janet Attarian outlined plans for the new Roosevelt Road streetscape from State Street to Columbus Drive. The project will include a groundbreaking new segment of sidewalk-level, two-way bicycle lane, part of a bike-friendly route to and from the lakefront. The info session, hosted by aldermen Pat Dowell (3rd) and Will Burns (4th), also covered CDOT’s proposal for a new protected bike lane on State Street from 18th Street to 26th Street in Bronzeville – we’ll have a report on that project soon. 

The new sidewalk bikeway, which Attarian referred to as a “sidepath,” will be built on the north side of Roosevelt between Wabash Street and Indiana Avenue, connecting with multiuse paths through Grant Park. The streetscape project will also include pedestrian improvements and high-capacity bus shelters.

Beyond recapping the various topics discussed, the blog also has renderings that show what may be in store:

Proposed improvements Roosevelt between State and Wabash 

Proposed improvements for Roosevelt between Wabash and Michigan

Proposed improvements for Roosevelt between Michigan and Indiana

Their post provides a ton of other details and is definitely worth a read.  For instance they go into depth about the thinking as to why the protected raised bike lane needs to stop at Indiana as opposed to Columbus.

While this is a distinctive and drastic change to Roosevelt, it still doesn't do much for the stretch of Roosevelt west of State - where bikers tend to be at more risk from the amount of cars/buses.  However, this is a "pilot" and if it proves successful then it could mean additional improvements for bikers along Roosevelt and throughout the city.

Should be interesting to see how this pans out.  What do you think?  Good?  Bad?  Indifferent?

(Hat tip:  TT!)