Construction for the Navy Pier Flyover project, an elevated path for safer walking and biking along the Lakefront Trail will begin Monday, March 24th. The path near Navy Pier is one of the most heavily used portions of the 18.5-mile trail.

The dedicated bike and pedestrian path will extend from the Chicago River Bridge to Jane Addams Park and provide a safer and scenic alternative to several congested intersections along the Lakefront Trail. The path will also include stairs and ground-level entrance and exit points for easy access.

This work will involve the temporary closure of the right travel lane and shoulder of northbound Upper Lake Shore Drive for one block between Illinois Street and Grand Avenue.  The off-ramp from Upper Lake Shore Drive to Illinois Street will also be reduced to one lane.

Throughout the construction, the Lakefront Trail will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists, but the path will detour around the construction activity.  All businesses and residences will remain accessible.  The intersection of Grand Avenue and Lower Lake Shore Drive may be impacted by construction periodically, but will remain open.

The traffic impacts on Upper Lake Shore Drive are expected to last into September. 

The dedicated bike and pedestrian path will extend from south of the Chicago River Bridge to Jane Addams Park to provide a safer and scenic alternative to several congested intersections along the Lakefront Trail.  The flyover will also include stairs and ground-level entrance and exit points for easy access.

The 16-foot-wide flyover will provide grade separation at Illinois Street and Grand Avenue for the Lakefront Trail.  It will reduce crossing conflicts between the multi-use path users and cars going to and from Navy Pier area. 

The new elevated path will wind its way up from this park to Upper Lake Shore Drive and around Lake Point Tower.  Then it will head back down to reconnect with the sidewalk on the bridge over the Chicago River.  

Construction will be done in three overlapping phases, with the first phase beginning between Jane Addams Park and Ogden Slip, the second between the slip and the river, and the third phase improving the path over the Chicago River Bridge.  The entire $60 million project is expected to be completed in 2018.

For the latest information on construction of the Navy Pier Flyover, click here to download the project flyer or visit the official website: www.navypierflyover.com. The view the project plans and renderings, click here.

Chicago has been named the 2014 Earth Hour Capital of the United States by the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Earth Hour City Challenge, a year-long competition among cities to promote renewable energy and prepare for climate change. Cities that participate are recognized for their efforts in creating more sustainable, resilient cities, and compete for the title of U.S. Earth Hour Capital as well as grants from WWF.

163 cities entered into this year's Earth Hour City Challenge, including 60 in the United States. An expert climate-change panel selected 33 finalists from 14 participating countries. They named one sustainability leader per country as the Earth Hour Capital award winner. Chicago will now compete with the other international Earth Hour Capital cities for the title of Global Earth Hour Capital for 2014, which will be awarded at a ceremony on March 27, 2014 in Vancouver, Canada.

Click on the following links to read the official press announcement or to download a copy of Sustainable Chicago 2015, the City's action plan that defined initiatives, metrics and strategies that would advance Chicago's goal of becoming the most sustainable city in the country. For more information about Earth Hour City Challenge, visit worldwildlife.org/pages/earth-hour-city-challenge.

Will You Turn Off Your Lights March 29? 

Individuals and families in Illinois can now sign up for quality health coverage through Get Covered Illinois by visiting www.GetCoveredIllinois.gov. Through the Marketplace, you can make side-by-side comparisons of health coverage options and find the plan that works best for you, your family and your budget.

All of the plans you'll find through Get Covered Illinois cover important things like doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions and more. And you won't be denied coverage if you are sick or already have a condition like asthma, diabetes or even cancer.

You may even be able to get help paying for your plan. For example, if you are an individual who earns less than $45,960 a year, or a member of a family of four that makes less than $94,200 a year, you may be able to get a tax credit to help pay for your health insurance coverage. You may even qualify for a free or low-cost plan.

Sometimes finding the right health plan can be confusing. The good news is that you don't have to figure it out alone. There are specially trained counselors, called Navigators, who are available to help you learn about your choices and enroll for free - online, by phone or in-person. To enroll online or find a Navigator near you, visit www.GetCoveredIllinois.gov.

It's an exciting new state of health care in Illinois. Having health insurance means being there for your family when they need you. With a plan from Get Covered Illinois, you'll know you can get the care you need, when you need it, including free preventive care to help you stay healthy. No one plans to get sick or injured, but if the unexpected happens, you'll now be able to see a doctor or go to the hospital without racking up huge medical bills.

So why wait? Enrollment is open through March 31, 2014. Take the first step to getting covered. To enroll online or find a Navigator near you, visit www.GetCoveredIllinois.gov or call the toll-free Help Desk at (866) 311-1119, open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Beginning with first responders and continuing with service providers and ultimately prosecutors, each task force partner will be adopting new and improved procedures to accomplish four specific goals:

• Identify households at an elevated risk for injury
• Elevate the law enforcement response to those households
• Proactively connect higher-risk victims to services such as counseling, case management, legal advocacy, legal representation and domestic violence shelter
• Prioritize higher risk offenders for prosecution

CPD responds to approximately 200,000 domestic related calls for service annually or nearly 500 domestic calls each day. In 2013, there were more than 1,500 instances of aggravated domestic battery with a knife, gun or other dangerous weapon.

It is essential that every Chicagoan actively seek to end domestic abuse of all types in the city. To report domestic abuse, call 9-1-1. For more information and support, anyone can call the domestic violence help line at 877-863-6338.

To learn more about this new pilot program, click here to read the official press release.

ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza is a four-day event to attract technology students from around the United States to move to Chicago after graduation. It introduces the City's fast-growing technology industry and one of the country's most popular musical festivals to some the nation's top technology and computer science students. In 2014, the program will expand from 100 students to 125 students. 

Organized by the City of Chicago, Chicago Ideas Week, World Business Chicago, 1871, and Lollapalooza, ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza invites university undergraduate and graduate students from around the country to attend a variety of events in Chicago.

Attendees of the ThinkChicago program will have a chance to visit and meet with the leaders of some of today's most innovative tech companies, meet industry leaders, visit business headquarters, and gain free admission to all three days of the Lollapalooza music festival.

Mayor Emanuel and Chicago-based technologists and entrepreneurs will host a series of discussions and panels to hear pitches from ThinkChicago students on tech solutions that could improve the quality of life for Chicagoans.

Past participants have been exposed to companies like GrubHub, Belly, kCura, 37Signals and Groupon, and speakers like Eric Lunt (BrightTag CTO), Dag Kittlaus (creator of Siri) and Harper Reed (Obama for America 2012 CTO).

ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza is seeking candidates who are enthusiastic about digital technology, computer science, innovation or entrepreneurship and have demonstrated a commitment to achievement and excellence in their field. ThinkChicago is opening the application to undergraduate and graduate students from engineering, computer science, and technology entrepreneurship programs at universities across the country.

Students may submit applications through April 30, 2014 by visiting www.thinkchicago.net. Participating students will be required to secure their own travel and lodging. Questions concerning the program can be submitted to [email protected]. To learn more about ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza, click here to read the official press release.

Mayor Emanuel, ThinkChicago and 1871 recently launched the Chicago College Startup Competition (CCSC) - a new effort to attract the leading collegiate business startups from around the country to Chicago.

As part of the CCSC, 1871 will provide up to 10 full-time desks at their 50,000 square-foot networking and business incubation space in The Merchandise Mart. The spaces will be designated for entrepreneurs who started their businesses while in college and wish to continue after graduation by moving to Chicago. The winners of the competition will receive a full free year of desk space, mentorship services, and all of the amenities that are made available to startups at the 1871 facility.

ThinkChicago and 1871 will work with some of the leading entrepreneurial business plan competitions at colleges across the country to identify outstanding businesses that may be selected as the winning businesses. Businesses can also directly apply to 1871 and ThinkChicago to be considered for the program. This will ensure businesses that are not involved in ongoing entrepreneurship competitions can still have a chance to be offered a place in the program. A panel of current businesses located at 1871 and members of ThinkChicago will evaluate the additional entries for inclusion in the program.

Competition winners will have same access to all 1871 resources as existing businesses. 1871 will also create a working group focused specifically on the unique challenges facing collegiate entrepreneurs to support the new companies and future collegiate businesses that come to the City of Chicago.

Interested applicants should visit www.1871.com/CCSC or contact [email protected] for more information. Competition winners will be publicly announced at ThinkChicago: Lollapalooza during the first week in August. Click hereto read the official press release.

The "Neighborhood Small Business Challenge" is a new funding competition for local nonprofit organizations to propose and enact plans to strengthen Chicago's neighborhoods and local small businesses. Organizations will compete for a grant pool of $200,000 and submit plans to boost neighborhood tourism, provide technology training to businesses and makeover a business corridor.  Winning organizations will receive grants between $10,000 and $25,000 each, and BACP will oversee performance to ensure that the City's goals are met.

A total of $200,000 in new funding is available to proposals that are selected through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process; selected proposals will receive between $10,000 and $25,000 each. These RFPs are open to all currently contracted Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDCs), which include Chambers of Commerce and other nonprofit organizations, as well as other nonprofit organizations that do not currently have a contract with the City. To view the RFPs, visit the DBACP website.

Entities can submit proposals for any and all of the three RFPs, which include:

Neighborhood Tourism Plan (Up to four awards at $25,000 each)

• Organizations will work closely with Choose Chicago to create a neighborhood tourism plan to bring additional visitors to local neighborhoods throughout Chicago.
• Organizations will work with local businesses and neighborhood stakeholders to create a common vision; identify tourism asset development opportunities; and develop marketing and other promotional materials.

Technology Training (Up to four awards at $10,000 each)

• Organizations will partner with expert technology trainers to build the skills of business owners and help to drive sales, increase efficiencies, and/or result in a decrease in operational costs.
• Technology training may include accounting, online sales and marketing tools, and social media strategies.

Business Corridor Makeover (Up to four awards at $15,000 each)

• Organizations will identify business corridors in their neighborhoods that are prepared to commit time and financial investment to support improvements.
• Each business will receive a customized consultation identifying ways to improve store window and sales floor designs, as well as signage and fa�ade improvements
• Participating businesses will be required to commit a minimum of $2,000 to implement recommendations from their consultation. 

Launched in 2013, the Neighborhood Small Business Growth Strategy ensures that small businesses in every neighborhood receive the resources and support they need to successfully open and grow.  The plan makes new resources and services available to small businesses, strengthens the City's partnership with local Chambers of Commerce and other economic development agencies, unveils new approaches to driving customers to commercial corridors, and enlists small businesses in making neighborhoods safer.  The strategy was launched last year to ensure businesses have access to quality services and resources directly in the neighborhoods, and builds off efforts to make City Hall more of a partner to the city's job creators. 

To view the RFPs, visit the DBACP website.

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) will host two Public Art Town Hall Meetings this spring, advancing the goals of the Chicago Cultural Plan.

Public Art Town Hall Meeting #1

Wednesday, March 26, 2014, 6pm

Chicago Cultural Center

78 E. Washington St. (Exhibit Hall, 4th Floor North)

Public Art Town Hall Meeting #2

Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 6pm

Washington Park Arts Incubator

301 E. Garfield Blvd.

RSVP here. 

Attendees at the town hall meetings will learn about the Chicago Cultural Plan and the City's public art program as well as best practices from other cities. Participants will also have an opportunity to brainstorm ideas in a smaller group setting, discussing the role of public art in our city, temporary public art projects, new genres of public art, funding ideas for public art and other relevant topics.

Residents may also share their thoughts about public art via civic dialogue platform Textizen by texting "public art" to 773.769.7987, then answering nine survey questions. (Standard text rates apply. DCASE will not sell or share phone numbers. For more information, visit textizen.com/privacy.)

The "35 Years of Public Art" exhibit features sculptures, paintings, murals and more that represent an overview of more than three decades of public art in Chicago.

The exhibition includes a selection of artwork from various satellite locations including libraries, police stations and other public buildings. Highlights of the installation include maquettes, sketches and other materials related to Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate, Jacob Lawrence's mosaic, Events in the Life of Harold Washington, and Mary Brogger's Haymarket Memorial. The exhibition also features a chair and ottoman from Suite Home Chicago and a mural from the Legler Branch Library by Kerry James Marshall. The mural celebrates the library as a source of mystery and wonder.

The exhibition is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). Gallery hours are Monday-Thursday, 10am-7pm; Friday-Sunday, 10am-6pm. Admission is FREE. The Chicago Cultural Center is open seven days a week, except holidays.

The exhibit continues through May 4 and is located in the Exhibit Hall (fourth floor north) at the Chicago Cultural Center.

For more information, visit chicagoculturalcenter.org, join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter (@ChiCulturCenter) or call 312.744.3316; TTY 312.744.2964. For the latest DCASE news, visit cityofchicago.org/dcase or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter (@ChicagoDCASE).

In 2014, the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA) will hold meetings to reconnect and establish new relationships with community partners. The meetings will provide an opportunity for residents and community leaders to learn about IPRA and the service that they provide for the City of Chicago.

IPRA Monthly Community Meeting 

Thursday, April 3, 2013, 6:30pm

1615 W. Chicago Ave., 1st Floor Conference Room

For more information, please contact Larry Merritt at 312.746.3609 or

[email protected].

If you have an interest in environmental issues and wish to make a difference in your neighborhood, get involved the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) Spring 2014 Environmental Leadership Training Series.

During the training, participants learn from community and environmental leaders about urban environmental challenges and opportunities for change; then they can lead an environmental service project in their communities with C3 support and resources.

Interested parties can attend one of the orientations listed below to learn more. To reserve a seat or for more information, they should contact 773-755-5177 or use the online form at www.naturemuseum.org/c3.

• Saturday, April 5, 10 to 11 a.m., Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon Dr.
• Tuesday, April 8, 6 to 8 p.m., Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd. 
• Wednesday, April 9, noon to 1 p.m., Chicago Department of Transportation, 30 N. LaSalle St, 11th Floor
• Thursday, April 10, 6 to 7 p.m., Hyde Park Arts Center, 5020 S. Cornell Dr

The course is only open to Chicago residents who attend one of the orientations above.  The course will be held at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd, Wednesdays, April 23 through May 28, 5:30-9:00 p.m.   A $75 fee covers class participation and project support.  Financial assistance is available upon request.

For more information, visit the Chicago Conservation Corps blog.

The City of Chicago welcomes designers to the Sustainable Chicago Poster Design Competition: CITY IN A GARDEN. Centered on the belief that graphic design can affect positive change, CITY IN A GARDEN seeks to integrate innovative and compelling design into Chicago's urban fabric. Winning posters will be displayed on bus shelters and city information panels throughout the city, serving as public art, enhancing daily life in Chicago, and encouraging residents to live more sustainably. 

The goal: To design a powerful, attention-grabbing, memorable poster, incorporating what it means for Chicago to be a sustainable city, bringing the City's motto "Urbs in horto" (Latin for 'City in a Garden') to life. The design should be inspiring, engaging and ultimately, create a call to action for residents to make a difference in our community.

The Criteria: Entries to this competition will be reviewed by the contest jury and by the public on the following criteria:

• Message:  Effectively communicates the overall message of Sustainable Chicago 2015 - to make Chicago the most livable, competitive and sustainable city.
• Call to Action:  Has clear impact and call to action
• Design:  Is visually and intellectually stimulating

Entries are now being accepted! The deadline to submit is Friday, April 6, 6:00pm. Learn more at cityofchicago.org/CityInAGarden.

Court Advocacy Volunteers Needed

Court advocacy is a way to show support for victims and solidarity against crime in your community.  The presence of Court Advocates in the courtroom sends a strong message to the defendant, the judge and all other interested parties in the criminal justice system that the community cares about the outcome of these cases and is willing to devote its time and energy to monitor the workings of the judicial system. Volunteer to work with other community members in tracking court cases and attending judicial hearings.

Battery / Criminal Trespass to Private Property - 10 E Chicago 

The offenders were arrested on 14 March 2014, for Battery and Criminal Trespass to Private Property, from the 10 East block of Chicago Avenue at approximately 11:00 p.m. It is alleged that the subjects were asked to leave a restaurant establishment numerous times. One of the offenders urinated in a plastic bottle, throwing the bottle and liquid at the restaurant manager, resulting in a battery in progress. Cannabis was also found to be in the possession of one of the arrested offenders.

If you are interested in volunteering for Court Advocacy on this case, contact the 18th District Community Policing Office at 312-742-5778 for the next court date, time and location. This incident has been reported under RD # HX 185246.

Battery - 1200 N Wells 

The above offenders were arrested on 15 March 2014, for Battery from the 1200 block of North Wells at approximately 10:30 p.m. It is alleged that the above subjects surrounded, taunted and battered two victims walking down the street at that location. Five adult offenders were arrested and one juvenile.

If you are interested in volunteering for Court Advocacy on this case, contact the 18th District Community Policing Office at 312-742-5778 for the next court date, time and location. This incident has been reported under RD # HX 186534.

Stolen Cell Phones

 

• Drivers will no longer have to make payments at the meter boxes if they choose. (Meter boxes will remain in place throughout the City, providing motorists with multiple options to pay).
• Printed receipts will no longer need to be placed on dashboards.
• Drivers will no longer have to return to their car to increase their time allotment.

Motorists who purchase parking for two hours or more will pay no additional fees. Those paying for less than two hours will pay a 35-cent convenience fee, which is comparable to or less than similar fees in other cities.

The cashless option allows users to use the app to pay via credit or debit card. The system, available to iPhone and Android users, will also send users text message reminders 10 minutes prior to the expiration of their parking session, and allow them to pay for more time remotely.

To read the full press release, click here.

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Pace have announced the transit systems will complete the transition to the new Ventra fare payment system by July 1.

The transition calendar has three phases:

• May 1-Customers can no longer buy magnetic stripe cards or autoload/reload Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus
• June 1-Customers can no longer reload magnetic stripe cards or use Chicago Card/Chicago Card Plus
• July 1-Customers can no longer use magnetic stripe cards. Pace customers paying with cash will no longer be issued a Transfer Card. All customers will be transitioned to Ventra.

Chicago Card Plus customers enrolled in the CTA's Transit Benefits through their employers and O'Hare employees using the temporary O'Hare smart card are transitioning the first week of April, and will receive specific instructions through their employers.

Senior citizens who are enrolled in the Reduced Fare Program should spend down their available balance on their magnetic swipe cards.  Seniors enrolled in the Reduced Fare Program who have not received a new Ventra card should call the RTA at 312-913-3110.  Seniors who are unable to spend down their available balance by July 1 can either do a balance transfer either through the mail or at a balance transfer event, details of which are below.

To assist all other customers who still need to transition, Ventra has a number of ways to purchase a Ventra card and transfer the balance from a Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus to a Ventra Card.

Customers can easily obtain a Ventra Card at vending machines at CTA's 145 rail stations and at more than 1,000 retail locations in Chicago and the suburbs. To take advantage of balance protection in the event of a lost/stolen card and online account management, customers can easily register their cards at ventrachicago.com  and have the one-time card purchase fee of $5 converted to fare value on their Ventra Card.

Ventra plans a number of balance transfer events throughout the city over the next three months. At these events, customers can transfer balances from valid magnetic-stripe cards and Chicago Cards, obtain and register a new Ventra Card (with no upfront purchase fee), and have their questions answered. These events will also assist customers who have been issued Reduced Fare and Ride Free Permits by the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA).

Balance transfer customers may bring a maximum of five eligible fare media cards with a combined minimum of $5 in transit value. Fare media that is eligible for balance transfers includes CTA and Pace stored value magnetic stripe full-fare and reduced-fare cards and Chicago Cards. Unlimited ride 1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day passes, reduced fare passes, and passes sold in bulk or any expired fare media cannot be transferred to Ventra cards and must be used up. RTA reduced-fare permit holders must bring in new Ventra RTA reduced-fare permit for balance transfer.

Chicago Card Plus customers who have not yet transitioned to Ventra will be able to do so  online at ventrachicago.com.

Later this spring, customers who wish to transfer unused balances on Chicago Card and magnetic stripe fare cards will have the option of mailing in their old cards and having any unused balance transferred to their registered Ventra Card. (Not including unlimited-ride 1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 30-day pass products, which must be used up in advance of the full transition.) The CTA and RTA will provide more details about the mail-in option later this spring and information will be published in Reilly Reports as well.

Customers can visit ventrachicago.com for complete balance transfer rules and event dates, how-to-videos and frequently asked questions.

The 42nd Ward Constituent Services Office at 325 W. Huron will be closed Saturday, March 22nd. The office will reopen for regular business hours on Monday, March 24th.

Lane Closure on W. Calhoun

Date and Time: Now until 2015

Location: W. Calhoun from N. Franklin for one-half block west

Traffic Impact: To accommodate a construction project, both lanes of travel will be closed for safety reasons on W. Calhoun from N. Franklin Street until the alley on W. Calhoun between Franklin and N. Wacker Dr.

Temporary Lane Closure on Upper and Lower Wacker Drive

Date and Time:  Daily until Spring 2015

Location:  Upper and Lower Wacker Drive between LaSalle Street and State Street

Traffic Impact:  Due to construction on the River Walk, there may be daily and temporary lane closures between 7 am and 3 pm

However, the hospital's emergency department and main entrance on Erie will remain open and accessible to emergency and private vehicles, as well as pedestrians, at all times during construction. That portion of Erie between St. Clair and Fairbanks will temporarily accommodate two-way traffic.

Eastbound through traffic on Erie will be detoured on St. Clair, either north to Superior Street or south to Ohio Street, and then to Fairbanks.  Street signage will be in place to help direct drivers.

All work activities will have appropriate signage and flag personnel for traffic and pedestrian management. Additional personnel will be supporting all work activities to insure public safety is maintained at all times.   

All construction activities will generally occur Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.   Occasional Sunday work may occur to ensure timely completion of the project, and in many cases, limit conflicts with traffic and local events.  

42nd Ward Construction Updates  

To read the most recent construction updates for current development projects in the 42nd Ward, please visit the "Major Projects" page on Alderman's Reilly website.