NEIGHBORHOOD TRAFFIC CONTROLS IN CHICAGO

The demand for neighborhood traffic controls in Chicago has risen dramatically over the past few years. One reason is that active community organizations and residents have assumed more direct ownership or control over their neighborhood environment. They seem more inclined to be pro-active regarding challenges facing their neighborhoods, and more determined to improve the quality of life. As we know, one of the major concerns facing society today is crime. Traffic calming has been identified as a component of a strategy to reduce crime on local streets by making it difficult for the criminals or their clients to use the street system. Another major threat to the quality of life in neighborhoods is the relentless increase in traffic volume on local streets. Based on recent citywide traffic counts, traffic volumes carried by Chicago streets have increased by more than 30% over the past 15 years. This has occurred even as the population of Chicago has decreased. Arterials are congested, and as a result, traffic seeks bypass routes wherever they can be found, including local residential streets. This option is made possible by Chicago's rectangular street grid, which gives motorists many alternatives for cutting through neighborhoods to avoid traffic congestion on arterial streets. One study found that 80% of traffic on a local residential street was through traffic. This paper examines the Chicago Department of Transportation and its efforts to improve traffic operations in its streets. In developing a strategy for addressing the problem of traffic spilling over onto local streets, it is, of course, essential to ensure that the arterial street system is operating as efficiently as possible. For example, in 1996 the City of Chicago completed a Traffic Signal Master Plan which calls for eventual interconnection of Chicago's 2,700 traffic signals, using fiber optic cable, with the signal system monitored and controlled by central computers. Implementation of this system has begun. In spite of efforts to improve operation of the arterial street system, many residential areas still need defensive measures to discourage and calm traffic on local streets.