October 24, 2025

Alderman Reilly Reports

City Council Budget Hearings This Week

This week, the Committee on Budget and Government Operations hosted several department heads to discuss their 2026 budgets. Notable departments that testified this week include the Mayor’s budget office and the Department of Transportation. Alderman Reilly pressed the Mayor’s budget team on their proposed $21/employee head tax for large businesses downtown. The Alderman told Block Club that he will never support a head tax of any kind, pointing to the effects it would have on Chicago’s business community. Governor Pritzker also made it clear in a recent Tribune article that he is "absolutely opposed" to a head tax. Click here to see the Alderman’s full line of questioning for the Mayor’s budget office.

During the hearing with the Department of Transportation, Alderman Reilly expressed his extreme frustration with the ongoing bridge construction and utility work downtown. Specifically, the Alderman pressed CDOT's Acting Commissioner on why four east-west bridges downtown are being worked on simultaneously. In his comments, which can be viewed here, the Alderman called out a “dramatic degradation” in the communication between CDOT and the ward offices. The Alderman also shed light on CDOT’s River North Lighting Project, which has caused numerous trip-and-fall hazards for residents and remains unfinished.

Weekly budget hearings will continue until November 13. Stay tuned to Reilly Reports for updates.

CTA Construction on Elevated Structures Downtown

The CTA will be performing track renewal and station maintenance on the elevated train lines in the Loop this weekend. Train traffic in the Loop will be shut down from Saturday, October 25 at 2am through Monday, October 27 at 3am. Construction will take place at the junction of Lake and Wells. Most work will be done during the day, but overnight work may occur to ensure the closures are lifted by Monday morning. Parking spots will be taped off as necessary for cranes and construction vehicles, and “No Parking” signs will be posted. Access to surrounding businesses will be maintained. The following streets will be closed during the construction from 10/25 at 2am through 10/27 at 3am:

Wells Street from Wacker Dr to Randolph St
Lake Street from Franklin St to LaSalle St

Vehicles will be rerouted to Wacker Dr at Wells St and will return to Wells at Washington St. Please visit transitchicago.com/alerts/ to get related CTA transit information. To receive emails or text messages regarding specific bus/rail routes, you can sign up here.

Hot Chocolate Run Next Weekend

The 18th annual Hot Chocolate Run will return to Grant Park next Sunday, November 2. The event raises money for Special Olympics programs. It is anticipated that over 38,000 runners will participate this year. The race will begin at 7:30am in Grant Park, and the final runner is expected to finish by noon. The course map can be found here. For a full list of traffic impacts, please click here. More information can be found here.

CAPS Meetings

18th District: (312-742-5778 / CAPS.018District@chicagopolice.org)

There are no scheduled beat meetings for this district for the remainder of the month.

1st District: (312-745-4381 / CAPS.001District@chicagopolice.org)

There are no scheduled beat meetings for this district for the remainder of the month.

To find your appropriate beat to attend your CAPS meeting, please click here.

Cook County Homeowner Property Tax Relief

The Cook County Board of Commissioners recently launched a program to assist homeowners who have experienced a substantial increase in property taxes in recent years. The relief fund's eligibility has broadened from a 50% increase to a 30% increase in property taxes, and that change is reflected below. The program will begin providing immediate assistance to homeowners that meet the following eligibility requirements:

You experienced a property tax increase of at least 30% in the 2021, 2022, or 2023 tax years
You have a household income at or below Cook County's median income ($120,000 for a family of four, $96,000 for a family of two)
You occupy the property as your primary residence

Accepted applicants will receive $1,000 in one-time assistance. The application has been extended through October 31 at 11:59pm. Please click here to apply.

Pin & Link Project:

Randolph, Columbus, & Stetson

CDOT's joint rehab work is ongoing along Randolph Street, Columbus Drive, and Stetson Avenue. Please see details below for the ongoing construction and closures.

General Construction Schedule:

7:00am - 3:30pm, Monday - Friday, with the occasional extension to 5:30pm as needed.

10/27 - 10/31:

Columbus Drive (Wacker Dr to Randolph St):
Work along center lanes of Columbus on upper, intermediate, and lower levels
Access Impacts:
Center lane and median closures (driveway access to be maintained)
Pedestrian detours around sidewalk work areas
Temporary closure of northbound lane on Lower Columbus from Randolph St to Lake St
Detour route will be in place directing all vehicles up the ramp to intermediate Columbus
Randolph Street (Stetson Ave to Field Blvd):
Work along north side of Randolph on upper, intermediate, and lower levels
Access Impacts:
North curb lane closure and parking restrictions (driveway access to be maintained)
Pedestrian detours around the sidewalk work areas
Randolph Street (Stetson Ave to Field Blvd):
Work along the south side of Randolph on intermediate level
Access impacts
South curb lane closure and parking restrictions (driveway access to be maintained)
Pedestrian detours around the sidewalk work areas

Additional details about the Pin & Link project will be provided in future weekly updates.

42nd Ward Traffic Closures & Construction Projects

Crane Lifts:

165 N Canal

On Sunday, October 26, Bay Crane will be lifting HVAC units to the roof at 165 N Canal St. Cranes will begin lifting on the south end of Canal St, allowing residents to exit the garage at Lake St with the assistance of traffic control aides. The crane will make its way to the north end, and residents will be able to enter the garage from Randolph St. CTA bus operations will not be affected. During the lift on 10/26, "No Parking" signs will be posted on Canal St between Randolph and Lake St between 9am - 4pm. Pedestrian access on the east side of Canal St will be restricted for the safety of all.

Bridge Construction Updates

The Grand Avenue Bridge will reopen today, Friday, October 24. The Grand Ave Bridge is scheduled for rehabilitation once the nearby projects are completed on Chicago Ave, Halsted St, and the Division St Bridge.

As reported in a past Reilly Report, construction continues on several downtown bridges, and Alderman Reilly has expressed his frustration with CDOT for a lack of coordination and planning. Traffic aides have been placed on Kingsbury at Chicago, Grand, and Erie to ease congestion. Stay tuned for future updates regarding traffic aides, detours, and closures.

Ontario Street Feeder Ramp Open

The outbound Ontario Street feeder ramp to the Kennedy Expressway is now open. Click here to see the updated route map from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Lake Street Bascule Bridge Remains Closed

Full street and sidewalk closures on the bridge went into effect October 6. Detours will be in place for traffic in both directions. Click here for the full detour map. During this work CTA Green and Pink lines will operate normally, except for two 12-day planned closures in Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. The work on the Lake Street Bascule Bridge is expected to be completed in January 2028.

Ohio Place Dog Park Closed for Re-Seeding

The Ohio Place Dog Park remains closed for a re-seeding project. Alderman Reilly authorized a portion of his Aldermanic Menu Funding to install this new fertilizer. The park will remain closed until the end of October. The gates have been locked, and closure signs have been placed at both entrances. Please keep your dogs off the grass to allow it to grow during this closure. We encourage residents to use the Larrabee Street Dog Park.

DuSable Statue Removed for Refurbishment

This week, the DuSable Statue on the Riverwalk near Michigan Ave was removed to repair the bust and pedestal. Signage has been placed at the site regarding the removal. The statue will be reinstalled as quickly as possible. Questions about this repair project can be directed to DCASE's Public Art Curation Office at PublicArt@cityofchicago.org.

State / Lake CTA Station Upgrade

CDOT and CTA continue work to transform the 108-year-old CTA train station at State & Lake. The work will affect the CTA bus routes listed here. Starting the evening of Monday, October 13, Lake St will be reduced to one lane at the site, and State St will be reduced to one lane in each direction between Wacker Dr and Randolph St. The new station is expected to be finished in 2029.

830 N Michigan Façade Work

Contractors are completing work on the façade at 830 N Michigan Ave. During work, a temporary sidewalk closure will be in place until approximately October 31. The façade will be fully enclosed with a temporary wall, allowing a portion of the sidewalk in front of 830 N Michigan to remain open to pedestrians.

Street Resurfacing - Wabash Ave from Wacker Dr to Balbo Dr

CDOT continues work on Wabash Avenue from Wacker Drive to East Balbo Drive. The work is a part of the CDOT's Arterial Street Resurfacing Project.

The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement, milling and paving the existing asphalt, and striping improvements. During construction, temporary "No Parking" signs will be periodically installed. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions on construction closures. Work is estimated to be completed by the end of October 2025.

State Street Bridge Project

CDOT continues structural repair work on the State Street Bridge. Throughout the project, the bridge will remain closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. State Street will remain open on both sides of the bridge during construction, and vehicles crossing the river will be rerouted to Clark Street and Dearborn Street.

The bridge is expected to be open by the end of January 2026.

River North Lighting Project

CDOT has completed new light pole installation in the area bounded by Chicago, Ontario, Orleans, and the river. CDOT continues to restore infrastructure trenching. Click here to watch Alderman Reilly's comments to CDOT's Acting Commissioner about the problems associated with this ongoing project.