On Saturday, November 10, Alderman Reilly hosted a Tulip Bulb Planting Event in River North.  Thank you to all the RNRA volunteers who came out in the cold to plant, Peet’s Coffee and Tea for donating hot coffee and Alderman Reilly who personally purchased the tulip bulbs which will blossom into beautiful purple, yellow and red tulips in the Spring

Over 100 Jumbo Darwin Mix tulip bulbs were planted in each new curb extension that is part of Alderman Reilly’s new traffic calming improvement project recently installed in River North.  Vital infrastructre improvements were installed in response to reports of speeding cars and pedestrian safety concerns along Erie Street, between Kingsbury and Sedgwick. Alderman Reilly allocated a portion of his Aldermanic Menu to fund the installation of these important River North safety improvements.

River North is home to a large (and growing) number of families, as well as several daycares and a popular park with robust children’s and dog amenities. All of these factors contribute to significant pedestrian traffic along Erie Street in River North.

Alderman Reilly asked the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) to survey West Erie Street, from N. Kingsbury Street to N. Sedgwick Street. CDOT traffic engineers developed a comprehensive traffic calming design intended to slow vehicular traffic and improve pedestrian safety along West Erie Street.

Concrete curb extensions have been installed on Erie Street, at the intersections with Kingsbury, Hudson, and Sedgwick Streets. Curb extensions narrow the roadway and help slow vehicular traffic, and bring stop signs closer to the driver. Curb extensions also reduce the pedestrian crossing distance and improve visibility between drivers and pedestrians.

For additional traffic calming, CDOT installed a speed hump and curb extensions mid-block on Erie Street between Kingsbury and Hudson, and another mid-block between Hudson and Sedgwick. Mid-block speed humps were installed on Superior, between Larrabee and Orleans, and will be installed on Huron, between Larrabee and Orleans.
Speed humps are self-enforcing traffic calming tools that reduce travel speeds as drivers are forced to slow down in order to traverse the humps.  The new speed humps will reduce overall vehicular and pedestrian crashes within this corridor.

With winter upon us, we must remember that many rely on walking and public transit as their primary mode of travel. Children, seniors and people with disabilities have a harder time navigating uncleared sidewalks after snow falls.

According to the Municipal Code of Chicago (4-4-310 & 10-8-180), property and business owners and occupants are responsible for keeping sidewalks clear of snow and ice. At least 5 feet of snow must be cleared from adjacent sidewalks. Snow that falls between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm must be cleared by 10:00 pm, while snow that falls overnight must be cleared by 10:00 am the next morning.

Fines range between $50 and $500 for residential properties and $100 to $1000 for businesses.

Please help report locations that DO NOT clear their sidewalks by making a “Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk” request with the City of Chicago 311 Service Request line.

Source:  Alderman Brian Hopkins 2nd Ward Newsletter:  12/4/18

Earlier this month, Alderman Reilly was notified that the CTA made a last-minute revision to the #66 bus detour plan due to the Chicago Avenue Bridge closure.

This change eliminated all stops on Chicago Avenue between Larrabee and Orleans – and forced many residents to walk almost a half mile to the nearest bus stop. Alderman Reilly immediately began working with the CTA to restore the eliminated bus stops to improve service during the bridge closure.

Alderman Reilly is pleased to report that effective Friday, November 9, the westbound #66 resumed the original detour path, which will remain in place until the Chicago Bridge reopens: Chicago, Larrabee, Division, Halsted, Chicago.

Furthermore, effective Monday, November 26 at 5am, CTA implemented the following eastbound #66 reroute, which will now accommodate riders. This route will remain in place until the Chicago Bridge reopens: Chicago, Halsted, Division, Crosby, Hobbie, Larrabee, Chicago.

Chicago Avenue Bridge Reconstruction
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has closed Chicago Avenue, between Larrabee Street and Halsted Street to complete the demolition of the 100 year old bascule bridge.

Marked detours have been designed for bicyclists, pedestrians, personal vehicles, buses and trucks. CDOT is making every effort to minimize traffic disruptions and is limiting other construction on the detour routes, and restricting parking to maximize road capacity.

CDOT will communicate regularly with stakeholders on the progress of this project, and we will include these updates in Reilly Reports. To add your contact information to CDOT’s project update email distribution list, contact the resident engineer Andrew Mey at 312-914-5461 or by email at amey@benesch.com.

Alderman Reilly Reports 11/30/18

Chicago’s annual Winter Overnight Parking Ban on critical arterial streets begins Saturday, December 1, 2018 and runs through April 1, 2019.

There are 107 miles of city streets considered critical arterial streets, and the nightly ban is in effect between the hours of 3:00am and 7:00am regardless of the presence of snow.

Violators of the Winter Overnight Parking Ban may face a $150 towing fee (minimum), a $60 ticket and a storage fee of $20 per day. Vehicles in violation of the ban will be towed to Pounds 2 (10301 South Doty Avenue) or 6 (701 North Sacramento).

Please click on the following link to see a MAP of streets that are affected by the Overnight Parking Ban.

Overnight parking restriction signs are posted throughout the designated routes.  Please be aware of these signs indicating the parking restrictions.

There is also a separate snow related ban that affects another 500 miles of main roadways across the city and takes effect when there are at least two inches of snow on the street regardless of time of day or calendar date.

For more information on the overnight parking ban and to view a map of streets impacted by the ban, click here.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 11/30/18

To print a copy, click HERE.

The City of Chicago and nonprofit partner, Illinois Green Alliance, are hosting an Energy Efficiency Idea Exchange Workshop for organizations and buildings interested in learning more about lowering energy use in their buildings and saving money on their utility bills.

Wednesday, December 5, 2018
8:00am – 10:00am
Malcolm X College Conference Center
1900 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60612

Attendees will hear from Illinois Green, City of Chicago, ComEd, Peoples Gas, and others, about great programs and energy efficiency topics, learn about FREE resources they can take advantage of to lower your energy use and bills, and have a chance to ask questions.

Attendance is FREE and a continental breakfast will be served.

Following the workshop, there will be an optional building tour of Malcolm X College and their sustainability initiatives for those interested.

Please click here for more information and to register.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 11/30/18

Millennium Park will be the epicenter of holiday cheer in Chicago, featuring your favorite seasonal traditions, Chicago’s official Christmas Tree, ice skating, music, exhibitions, a NEW art market and free family fun.

The 105th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will take place on Friday, November 16, at 6pm, featuring music, Santa Claus and program emcee Miguel Cervantes, who can now be seen as Alexander Hamilton in the Hamilton Chicago Company currently playing Broadway In Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, as well as fireworks after the lights go on at 6:30pm.

The program will feature music by actress, singer and songwriter Cozi Zuehlsdorff, cast members from Emerald City Theatre’s production of Ken Ludwig’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and performances by musicians from the Grant Park Music Festival, followed by a special appearance by Santa and Mrs. Claus.

The City of Chicago’s 105th Christmas Tree is a 60-foot Norway Spruce from Elmhurst, Illinois, donated by Deborah Orth and her family. The Tree, selected out of 79 tree nominations, will shine in Chicago’s iconic Millennium Park (Washington St. and Michigan Ave.) from November 16 through January 6, 2019. The lights adorning the Tree are being donated by IBEW Local 134 and the decor at its base is provided by the Millennium Park Foundation.

NEW this year, the Millennium Park Art Market, in partnership with School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago and After School Matters, will feature one-of-a-kind items, including jewelry, fashion, painting, sculpture, prints, and drawings on sale by more than 150 student artists. Part of the City of Chicago’s Year of Creative Youth, the Holiday Art Market is supported by the Millennium Park Foundation. The market has free admission and will run November 16-18, 11am-7pm in a heated tent on the Chase Promenade North.

The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park will also open earlier in the day on Friday, November 16, at noon, with skating continuing through Mid-March 2019.

For more information about holiday programming at Millennium Park, click here to read the full press release.

Source:  Alderman Reilly Reports 11/9/18

To print a copy, click HERE.