CDOT representatives meet with PB49 Committees

PB 2012 Committees held a series of “Meeting with the Experts” earlier this month with representatives from the City of Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Office of Tourism and Culture (COTC), and the Chicago Park District (CPD), to discuss the feasibility of various projects proposed during the Neighborhood Assemblies.  CDOT Deputy Commissioner Bob Myers, Assistant Commissioner Mike Volini, and Field Service Specialist Keith Weaver (who took time from his vacation to be with us!) were on hand to explain the procedures involved in going forward with projects, as well as to provide cost estimates, staying until past 9:00 p.m. to answer all questions and meet with the individual Committees on Streets, Traffic & Public Safety, and Transportation as they reviewed their lists of projects.  Similary, COTC Curator of Public Art Allyson Coglianese met with the Committee on Arts & Other, and CPD Senior Project Manager Bob Foster and John Gay, Legislative Liaison, met with the Committee on Parks & Environment.  Thank you for going above and beyond!

Keith Weaver and Bob Myers meet with Committee on Traffic & Public Safety

• Bike Lanes on Albion, Eastlake & Pratt (Phase II). This is a  Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) project.  We are awaiting the resurfacing of Pratt (see Street Resurfacing below).
• Bike Racks. Twenty racks will be purchased, with CDOT matching with an additional 20 racks.  The site locations are being determined.
• Improvements to Ridge, Touhy & Rogers Intersection. Final estimate was given by CDOT and we are awaiting scheduling.
• Improvements to Metra Underpasses at Birchwood, Estes & Touhy. This is a joint effort by CDOT and Union Pacific.  The project will include washing, lighting, repainting, and pigeon abatement.
• New Playground at Touhy Park. The initial estimate assumed matching funding from the Chicago Park District.  If it is not forthcoming, we will need to reasses the project scale or seek an additional funding source, or both.
• Path Extension at Jarvis, Leone & Loyola Parks. Same issue as with the Touhy Park Playground (see above).
• Street Resurfacing of Pratt, Wolcott, Columbia & Jarvis. This is a CDOT project. Repaving of the 12 blocks was delayed from Fall 2011 to Spring 2012 to coordinate with the People’s Gas new gas line project throughout the 49th Ward.

• Sidewalk Repairs. PARTIALLY COMPLETED. Fifteen sites were repaired, but the City increased costs for most, so twelve sites still need to be addressed. Eleven of the original sites were added to the 2011 ballot, but did not receive enough votes to receive new funding.
• Bike Lanes on Touhy, Ashland & Rogers (Phase I). COMPLETED. There was an initial long delay due to a worldwide shortage of striping materials (the shiny stuff), but the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) completed the work in Summer 2011.
• Dog-Friendly Area (Dog Park) at Pottawatomie Park. COMPLETED. Lengthy initiative including planning committee, architects, etc., involved. Completed in Fall 2011 and flood lights just installed.
• Community Garden at Dubkin Park. COMPLETED. Built by DOE GreenCorps in late Summer 2011. Some initial planting, with full planting Spring 2012.
• Underpass Murals. 12 out of 13 COMPLETED. Project started with a published RFP, resulting in 160 entries from local artists which was reduced to 24 finalists by a panel of experts, and 13 designs determined by a popular vote of 49th Ward residents at the Glenwood Sunday Market. Completed murals grace both CTA and Union Pacific/Metra underpasses.
• Traffic/Pedestrian Signal on Clark at Chase. PENDING. Final estimate from the City was significantly higher than the original. Given the crossing is by a school, Alderman Moore is seeking additional funding from both City and State agencies.
• Bike Racks (Artistic & Multifunctional). PENDING. The process will include an RFP (similar to the murals project), a community vote on the design, and fabrication to meet City specifications.
• CTA Heating Shelters with Benches at Jarvis, Morse & Loyola Stations. COMPLETED. The CTA completed installation in Spring 2011.
• Street Resurfacing of Lunt, Ashland to Clark. PENDING. The work has been dependent on bordering infrastructure work on Lunt. In 2010, the Lunt water mains were replaced from Ravenswood to Ridge, and that section was resurfaced. In 2012, water-main replacement and resurfacing is planned from Sheridan to Ashland. PB funding will be used to resurface the “middle section,” Ashland to Ravenswood. The end result will be a resurfaced Lunt, from Sheridan to Ridge.
• Solar-Powered Garbage Containers on Sheridan. PENDING. This project will be combined with an order by the Department of Streets & Sanitation, which can issue official RFPs for the garbage containers.
• Convenience Shower at Loyola Park. COMPLETED. Situated outside near the Loyola Field House, it was completed Summer 2011.
• Path Completion in Touhy Park. COMPLETED. The partial path in the park was completed in Fall 2010.
• Historical Signs for Rogers Park. PENDING. This complex project will include content written by the Rogers Park/West Ridge Historical Society, hiring of a designer and fabricator, and working with specifications from the CDOT.
• Street Lights on Morse, Sheridan to Wayne. COMPLETED. The project was originally for residential lights (two-bulb upper and lower lights), but was upgraded to ornamental lights to complete the Morse Avenue Streetscape lights from Wayne to Morse. Lights were installed in Fall 2011.

The 49th Ward’s Participatory Budgeting, in its third year, is off to a great start!

Residents of the 49th Ward have the power to decide how to spend my 2012 Aldermanic “menu money”–a $1.3 million discretionary fund I receive annually for infrastructure improvements in the ward.  The 2012 Participatory Budgeting process, which began in October 2011 with a series of “Neighborhood Assemblies” that have been held throughout the ward, will conclude on November 17th.

The ward is organized into eight sections or areas, with a Neighborhood Assembly held in each area. In addition, a Spanish language Assembly will be held for the entire ward on November 15th. The Neighborhood Assemblies, open to any 49th Ward resident, provide attendees with a brief description of the aldermanic infrastructure menu program and the Participatory Budgeting process. Assembly attendees are then asked to brainstorm ideas for possible uses of the infrastructure menu money.

At the conclusion of the meeting, we ask for volunteers to serve as “community representatives,” who are charged with developing specific spending proposals for a ward-wide vote in March 2012.

We have held six Neighborhood Assemblies so far and the turn-out has been terrific! The number of residents becoming involved in the process has grown substantially, and the proposed projects promise to make this upcoming election exciting.  Already the number of community representatives is over 70, and we have three more Assemblies to go!

All meetings begin promptly at 7:00 PM but join us early at 6:30 PM for free pizza, courtesy of JB Alberto’s.

• Wednesday, Oct. 19th, St. Margaret Mary Church Activity Center, 7331 N. Claremont Ave. (Area B)
• Thursday, Oct. 20th, Pottawattomie Park Fieldhouse, 7340 N. Rogers Ave. (Area C)
• Monday, Oct. 24th, Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave. (Area F)
• Thursday, Oct. 27th, New Field School, 1707 W. Morse Ave. (Area E)
• Tuesday, Nov. 1st, Loyola University, Centennial Forum Student Union, 1125 W. Loyola Ave. (Area H)
• Thursday, Nov. 3rd, United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse Ave. (Area G)
• Tuesday, Nov. 15th, Iglesia San Jerónimo, 1709 W. Lunt Ave. (Spanish language)
• Wednesday, Nov. 16th, Alden Village North, 7464 N. Sheridan Rd. (Area D)
• Thursday, Nov. 17th, Willye White Park, 1610 W. Howard St. (Area A)

If  you missed the Neighborhood Assembly in your area, make sure you attend one of the last three scheduled Assemblies.  I don’t want anyone to miss out on the chance to have a say in the infrastructure projects to be funded in the ward.

• Wednesday, Oct. 19th 2011, St. Margaret Mary’s, 7331 N. Claremont Ave.
• Thursday, Oct. 20th 2011, Pottawattomie Park, 7340 N. Rogers Ave.
• Monday, Oct. 24th 2011, Loyola Park Fieldhouse, 1230 W. Greenleaf Ave.
• Thursday, Oct. 27th 2011, New Field School, 1707 W. Morse Ave.
• Tuesday, Nov. 1st 2011, Loyola University Centennial Forum Student Union, 1125 W. Loyola Ave.
• Thursday, Nov. 3rd 2011, United Church of Rogers Park, 1545 W. Morse Ave.
• Tuesday,  Nov. 15th 2011, St. Jerome’s Parish Center, 1706 W. Lunt Ave. (Spanish language)
• Wednesday, Nov. 16th 2011, Alden Village North, 7464 N. Sheridan Rd.
• Thursday, Nov. 17th 2011, Willye White Park, 1610 W. Howard St.

Signs with meeting room information will be posted at each location.  See you there!

Streets

1. Streets Vote – A separate question will appear on the ballot asking voters to vote on a specific percentage of the 2011 aldermanic menu budget that should be devoted exclusively to street resurfacing. The votes on this separate question will be tallied and an average calculated.  That average will determine the percentage of the 2011 aldermanic menu budget that will be devoted exclusively to street resurfacing. The cost of resurfacing this year is $36,ooo for the first 5 blocks, and $58,000 per block after that to cover half the cost of installing the handicapped curb cuts. The streets that are up for resurfacing this year are (listed in priority):

1. 1500 W Pratt Blvd – Ashland Ave to Greenview Ave
2. 1400 W Pratt Blvd – Greenview Ave to Glenwood Ave
3. 1300 W Pratt Blvd – Glenwood Ave to Lakewood Ave
4. 1200 W Pratt Blvd – Lakewood Ave to Sheridan Rd
5. 6800 N Wolcott Ave – Farwell Ave to Pratt Blvd
6. 6900 N Wolcott Ave – Lunt Ave to Farwell Ave
7. 7000 N Wolcott Ave – Greenleaf Ave to Lunt Ave
8. 1400 W Jarvis Ave – Greenview Ave to Sheridan Rd
9. 7400 N Wolcott Ave -  Birchwood Ave to Fargo Ave
10. 7500 N Wolcott Ave -  Howard St to Birchwood Ave
11. 1300 W Columbia Ave – Glenwood Ave to Lakewood Ave
12. 1200 W Columbia Ave – Lakewood Ave to Sheridan Rd
13. 7700 N Marshfield Ave – Juneway Tr to Jonquil Tr
14. 7700 N Hermitage Ave – Juneway Tr to Jonquil Tr
15. 7500 N Claremont Ave – Howard St to Birchwood Ave
16. 6930 N Paulina Ave -  Lunt Ave to Morse Ave
17. 7000 N Paulina Ave – Estes Ave to Lunt Ave
18. 6900 N Ravenswood Ave – Lunt Ave to Farwell Ave
19. 7000 N Ravenswood Ave – Farwell Ave to Pratt Blvd

Arts and Other Projects

2. Metra Underpass Renovation at Birchwood, Touhy and Estes – New lighting, improved pigeon abatements and fresh paint at Metra underpasses. – $15,000

3. Neighborhood Kiosks – Public bulletin boards placed at various locations throughout the ward. Current sites include:

Clark and Lunt

Howard “L”

Loyola and Sheridan

Loyola Park, by the Heartland Café stand

Clark and Birchwood

Chase and Sheridan – $15,000

4. Decorative Light Poles – Each light pole on Clark St from Wallen to Touhy, and Sheridan from the Loyola El Station to Touhy would be painted with a simple design. – $25,000

Parks and Environment

5. Beach Path Extensions at Jarvis, Touhy and Morse– Construct ramps at lakefront paths at Jarvis, Leone and Loyola Parks that lead from pathway to the water. – $105,000

6. New Playground at Touhy Park – Replace playground at Touhy Park Park with a safer and more modern design. – $175,000

 7. Additional Funds for Paw-ttowatomie Park Dog Park - Additional funding to help pay for amenities at the new dog park at Pottawattomie Park including fencing, water fountains and a storage shed. – $45,000

Public Safety

8. Police Cameras Priority One: Wireless POD cameras equipped with blue strobe light above intersection at Rogers and Damen, Loyola Park Fieldhouse, and  Estes and Glenwood             – $60,000

9. Police Cameras Priority Two – Wireless POD cameras equipped with blue strobe light above intersections at Lunt and Paulina, and Touhy and Sheridan- $40,000

10. Residential Street Lighting, Priority One : Juneway Terr, from  Sheridan Rd to Ashland Ave – New residential street lighting from 1400 – 1600 W Juneway Terr. – $130,000

11. Residential Street Lighting, Priority Two: Ridge Blvd to Damen Ave – On Chase Ave and Birchwood Ave – New residential street lighting from 2000 – 2200 W Chase Ave and 2000 – 2200 W Birchwood Ave  – $60,000

12. Residential Street Lighting, Priority Three: Morse Ave from Clark St to Ravenswood Ave, and Sherwin Ave from Sheridan to the Lake - New residential street lighting from 1730 – 1800 W Morse Ave and 1200 – 1250 W Sherwin Ave $120,000

13. Residential Street Lighting, Priority Four: Estes Ave from Ashland to Greenleaf – New residential street lighting from 1400 – 1600 W Estes $120,000

Traffic Safety

14. Ashland and Greenview Traffic/Pedestrian Signal – Install a new traffic signal with pedestrian crosswalks -  $320,000

15. Ridge and Jarvis Crosswalks – Install ADA ramps and crosswalk paint by St. Scholastica Academy. – $40,000

16. Touhy, Rogers and Ridge Intersection Safety – Basic geometric improvement consisting of realigned curb and gutter along with sidewalk modifications – $75,000

Transportation

17. Bike Racks – 20 Bike racks at high traffic areas throughout the ward. The Chicago Department of Transportation has promised to match the 49^th Ward’s investment with an additional 20 new and refurbished racks upon approval of this project. $12,000

18. Rogers Park Bike Network, Phase 2 – Add 2 miles of striped bike lanes at Rogers from Clark Ave to Touhy Ave, Eastlake from Rogers Ave to Sheridan Rd, Albion Ave from Lakewood Ave to Loyola Campus, Lakewood Ave From Albion Ave to Morse Ave, and Pratt Ave from Ridge Bvd to the Lake: – $90,000

19. New Canopy at Rogers Park Metra Station – Construct a new, better-designed canopy on eastern Metra platform. – $50,000

20. Sidewalk Repairs, Priority One: 7201 W Claremont Ave, 2301 W Chase and 2101 W Fargo – Repair the sidewalks in the 49^th Ward that are in the most urgent need – $145,000

21. Sidewalk Repairs, Priority Two: 7202 N Hamilton Ave, 1147-51 W Pratt, 7300 N Rogers Ave and 1250 W Sherwin – Repair the sidewalks in the 49^th Ward that are in moderate need of attention – $95,000:

22. Sidewalk Repairs, Priority Three: 1944-46 W Touhy, 1901 and 2001 blocks of W Lunt, and  1247-65 W Columbia: Repair the sidewalks in the 49^th Ward that are in moderate need of attention $55,000

On Friday, April 8th there will be a silent auction for the posterboards that were used for the vote. These beautiful boards include the original mural design of each winning artist as well as a statement from each artist describing their inspiration behind the design. Please join us at the Mayne Stage at 5 PM to take home a unique piece of Rogers Park history.

CTA

Columbia (North Wall) – Brenda Barnum, Daisy Field
Pratt (Both Walls) – Amanda Paulson, Tribute to the Fish of Lake Michigan
Touhy (South Wall) – Leah Tumerman and Natalie Clark, Urban Oasis
Touhy (North Wall) – Joanna White, Lets Bring the Birch Trees Back to Rogers Park
Fargo (East Wall) – Jen Pagnini, Imagination Street
Fargo (North Wall) – Jason Brammer, United We Flow

UP

Pratt (North Wall) – Hebru Brantley, Respiration
Pratt (South Wall) – Jose Andreu, Interrelation
Farwell (North Wall) – Dan Bellini and Jennifer Cronin, In Dreams
Morse (South Wall) – Molly Zakrajsek, Birds, Bugs, Butterflies and Beauty
Greenleaf (South Wall) – Christopher Royal, Faces of Rogers Park
Greenleaf (North Wall) – Zsofia Otvos, Next to Each Other
Rogers (South Wall) – Jeremy Tinder, Say Say Say