September 4, 2020
Alderman Reilly Reports
Welcome to Alderman Reilly's weekly newsletter, Reilly Reports, with a new, updated look! Please keep reading below for more information about important announcements, upcoming events, and street closures in the 42nd Ward.
Clark Street Outdoor Dining Extended to Seven Days a Week
Starting today, restaurants on Clark Street, between Grand Avenue and Kinzie Street, will offer outdoor dining seven days per week. As a reminder, all east/west streets will remain open. To view a map of this closure, please click here. Furthermore, please contact the participating restaurants directly for information about reservations.  

The program to close streets in key commercial corridors has allowed restaurants some much-needed relief to accommodate additional capacity for guests looking to dine outdoors. Other expanded outdoor dining areas in the 42nd Ward include Wells Street between Huron and Superior, and Rush Street between Bellevue Pl and State Street.

Stay tuned to Reilly Reports for more information about outdoor dining during the upcoming months. 
Important Announcements and Updates
Alderman Reilly's Office Closed on Labor Day, September 7
Please be advised that Alderman Reilly's Office, other government offices and Chicago Public Libraries will be closed on Labor Day, Monday, September 7 to comply with the City of Chicago mandatory holiday schedule. 

If you have a need for city services, please call 311 for non-emergency requests, or dial 911 if you require immediate assistance. 
Upcoming 42nd Ward Community Events
Blood Drive
September 12, 2020
Alderman Reilly is hosting a Blood Drive on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at 455 North McClurg Court.

The Alderman’s goal is to collect 30 pints of blood at the event. All of the donations will go to local hospitals to help Chicagoans in need. Although walk-ins are welcome, we encourage you setup an appointment by calling 1-800-7TO-GIVE (1-800-786-4483).

A representative from Alderman Reilly’s Office will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city-related matters.
Community Shred Event
September 13, 2020
Alderman Reilly is hosting a Community Shred Day on Sunday, September 13 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will be held at the Ohio Place Dog Park located at 360 West Ohio Street.

Households are limited to two boxes and shredding materials will be accepted until the shred trucks are full.

A representative from Alderman Reilly's Office will be present to address concerns or questions regarding city-related matters.
Thank You!
Thank you to all the residents who donated unused and old electronics last weekend. Nearly two tons of electronics were diverted from landfills and waterways! 

Sometimes referred to as 'e-cycling', recycling obsolete electronics keeps toxins like lead, mercury, and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) out of our environment. Recycling electronics also recovers precious resources like gold, silver, copper, and palladium which can be reused, reducing our need for additional mining. 
City of Chicago Budget Forecast for 2021
On Monday, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot was joined by the City’s Budget Director Susie Park, Chief Financial Officer Jennie Huang Bennett and Comptroller Reshma Soni to release the 2021 Budget Forecast that projects a $1.2 billion budget gap for fiscal year 2021.  

The budget gap, the largest in the City’s history, is largely attributed to the devastating and continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenues which has caused widespread financial disruption to many sectors of Chicago’s economy. As part of the budget public engagement framework, the City has also released the 2021 Budget Forecast Summary, an overview that provides a transparent depiction of the impacts of COVID-19 on the City’s finances.  

The financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on our local economy have been widespread, causing a decline in consumer spending and a 10 percent reduction in Chicago metro GDP in the second quarter from the same period the prior year. These drastic changes in our economic conditions have contributed to the expansion of the City’s 2020 mid-year budget shortfall, growing to $798 million from an earlier estimate. 

The City has made progress in addressing this shortfall by implementing a hiring slowdown, leveraging CARES Act funding for eligible COVID-19 related expenses, finding service efficiencies, and pursuing additional debt refinancing for an additional $100 million in FY2020 relief on top of the incremental $100 million over budget achieved in the January 2020 refinancing. 

Last year, the City faced an historic $838 million budget deficit. The deficit was addressed with over $500 million in structural solutions, totaling the largest amount of structural solutions since 2012. For the first time, the City also climbed the ramp to fund Police and Fire pensions to actuarial funding levels. Through hard work and using an equity lens, the City achieved a balanced budget that included targeted new revenues, government efficiencies and critical neighborhood investments without imposing a significant property tax increase.   

Further, the long-term fiscal goals pursued by Mayor Lightfoot laid the foundation to begin discussions about finally bringing a casino to Chicago. For the first time in decades, the City secured authorization at tax rates that would be financially viable for a casino operator.  

On August 27th, the City issued a request for information to casino industry stakeholders to solicit feedback on key considerations related to a casino. This represents the next step in the planning process for finally bringing a casino to Chicago. The revenues generated from a casino would be dedicated toward Police and Fire pension funds, relieving pressure on the City’s general operating fund.  

While the 2020 budget set the City on a path to structural balance, the unprecedented pandemic created new challenges for the City to address. During the early stages of the pandemic outbreak, the Lightfoot Administration moved to mitigate some of the economic and social impacts caused by COVID-19 by implementing a number of initiatives to support small businesses, employees and residents. These initiatives include: 

  • the Small Business Resiliency Fund loan program to help fill the gap for under-banked or immigrant-owned businesses 
  • the Microbusiness Grant Program for small businesses with less than four employees 
  • funding for renters struggling to pay the their rent, financial assistance for small businesses or not-for-profits that have experienced economic distress and significant losses due to COVID-19 or from damage and theft 
  • and free internet to eligible CPS families through the Chicago Connected program.  

The City also deferred a variety of payments due to the City and instituted a penalty relief package to assist residents and businesses struggling to pay their debt.  

To build on the framework for the public engagement phase of the 2021 budget, today the City launched an online survey which asks participants about City services they most value.  

Additionally, this year the City is introducing the 2021 Budget Community Round Table series, a grassroots effort to gather community feedback from residents about their budgetary spending priorities, with a focus on engaging youth and the Latinx and African American communities. The City is seeking Budget Ambassadors to organize and facilitate one-hour virtual or in-person focus groups with up to 10 community members from September 7-20 to gather feedback about the needs and values most important to residents.  

Efforts to expand the 2021 budget engagement process will continue over the next several weeks. Residents can view a copy of the 2021 Budget Forecast or the Forecast Summary. Chicagoans interested in the budgeting process can also sign up to host a community focus group, submit a question about an important issue for discussion at the Facebook Live virtual town hall, or take the online survey by visiting www.chicago.gov/2021budget. 

42nd Ward constituents who wish to share suggestions on addressing the City's fiscal challenges, revenue-generating ideas, or comments on the 2021 budget can submit written feedback via email to alderman@ward42chicago.com or call us at 312-744-3062. Alderman Reilly reads every letter and email - examining your ideas carefully and considering the possibility of implementation. 
New 42nd Ward Development Proposal – 50 East Huron Street
The Restorative Care Institute (“RCI”) plans to develop a Class A, post-acute rehabilitation center with advanced infection controls at 50 East Huron (previously occupied by the American Library Association “ALA”).  

The existing ALA building is a vacant, five-story, brick structure fronting Huron Street. Surrounded by retail, hospitals, surgical centers and a large, residential high-rise population, the site is well-located to capture the demand of this programming, unique to Chicago. 

The proposal involves deconstruction of the existing building: re-use of the structural steel, a three-story addition and re-cladding in glass and white steel with some exterior expression of the bracing. 

Although doctors and nurses will be on-site, this is not a hospital. RCI is a class A, rehab and recovery center with advanced infection controls to protect post-surgical patients during recovery. The building’s environmental systems will include the highest infection prevention standards, unlike anything in Chicago: negative pressure rooms, HEPA filtration, ultraviolet germicidal particle elimination, voice-activated elevators, state-of-the-art safety systems and staffing protocols designed around healthcare related infection prevention throughout the entire interior.  
Furthermore, patients arrive and depart via pedestrian vehicles, not in ambulances. The building will contain indoor parking located in the basement (below-grade) for staff and some visitor parking. All loading will occur off-street in the existing alley. 

The project development team will be required to present their plans for approval to the Chicago Plan Commission, Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards and City Council to gain approval for this proposed amendment to Residential Business Planned Development No. 173. The use and required FAR are already in place; the sole purpose of the amendment is to clarify the language in the use provision statement to include the words “skilled nursing” as “medical use” is already included. RCI hopes to open by August 2022, with a project schedule of approximately 12 months.  

As part of Alderman Reilly's transparent community process for new developments, your comments and observations are welcome for this project. Please forward any feedback to development@ward42chicago.com.
Chicago Public Health Department COVID-19 Update
As a reminder to Chicago residents, the Emergency Travel Order is still in effect. Travelers entering or returning to Chicago from states experiencing a surge in new COVID-19 cases to quarantine for a 14-day period from the time of last contact within the identified state. This includes both Chicago residents returning from travel to a designated state, and travelers arriving in Chicago from a designated state. The list will be updated every Tuesday and go into effect the following Friday at 12:01 a.m. 

As of today, Friday, September 4, the Order applies to the following states and territories:  

Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.

Residents can view COVID-19 data specific to their neighborhood by visiting the COVID-19 Data Dashboard. WBEZ put together an article with helpful tips on how to read and understand the data available.

Please be advised that the State has promulgated new face covering rules requiring each bar and restaurant customer to wear a mask whenever interacting with staff. This means wearing a mask while ordering, receiving table service, and when picking up food for carry-out.
Furthermore, per State law, everyone over the age of two who can medically tolerate a mask must still wear a mask whenever they are unable to maintain social distance and whenever they are in a public/shared space – whether inside or outdoors. For more information about COVID-19 in Chicago please visit, www.chicago.gov/coronavirus. 
Jane Byrne Interchange Ramp Changes
The east-to-north ramp that carries eastbound I-290 traffic northbound to I-90/94 towards Wisconsin has reopened to traffic this week. Originally scheduled for completion later this fall, the reopening was made possible by the tremendous progress made by project crews in recent weeks.

Eastbound I-290 to northbound I-90/94 is currently detoured south to the Taylor Street exit ramp, where traffic is directed to make a u-turn back onto northbound I-90/94. That detour will close when the ramp reopens, with Taylor Street scheduled to reopen to through traffic in late September.
As a reminder, the Adams Street bridge, from Halsted to Desplaines is closed for demolition and scheduled to reopen in the Fall of 2022. The Adams Street bridge marks the final major bridge closure at the Jane Byrne Interchange for the 2020 construction season. The new bridge will have two westbound lanes and wider sidewalks on both sides of the street, enhancing connections and improving safety for all transportation users in the surrounding neighborhoods.

For more information about the Jane Byrne Interchange project, please visit janebyrneinterchange.org.
Navy Pier to Temporarily Close Starting September 8, 2020
Closure will start September 8 in an effort to limit the financial burden and impact of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the organization.
The closure will put a halt to all Pier-wide operations, including that of Navy Pier’s more than 70 small local businesses, which have also experienced significantly low attendance throughout the pandemic. Public access to the Pier’s outdoor spaces, including Polk Bros Park and North and South Docks, will also be limited or prohibited during the closure.

Navy Pier will continue to remain open to the public through Labor Day, welcoming guests to experience the Pier’s free arts and cultural programs, restaurants, retail shops, tour boats and dining cruises, and more, with multiple layers of safety precautions in place.

For more information and updates related to Navy Pier’s closure and re-opening status, please visit www.navypier.org.
Chicago Voters May Apply NOW to Vote By Mail Before the General Election
Due to COVID-19, voters are encouraged to use Vote By Mail or Early Voting before Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020
Chicago voters who apply online between now and September 24 will be among the first to receive ballots. Ballot mailings will begin September 24 - October 5. No reason or excuse is needed to Vote By Mail.

Chicago voters who apply online to Vote By Mail will receive emails:

  • In the days that follow their online application, to confirm that the online application has been received and processed;
  • When the ballot is being mailed to the voter -- with a unique link to a system to track the ballot through the US Postal Service;
  • When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" is received by the Election Board; and,
  • When the Vote By Mail "Ballot Return Envelope" has been approved for counting -- or if there is a question or problem with your Ballot Return Envelope.

If you are unable to apply online, the Election Board also will be sending Vote By Mail applications and postage-paid return envelopes in late July to all voters who have voted in any election(s) since November 2018 and to any voters who have registered for the first time or updated their registrations since March 18, 2020.

In the two weeks before Election Day, Chicago voters are encouraged to use a Secured Drop Box at any Chicago Early Voting site to return the signed and sealed Ballot Return Envelope.

Once a mail ballot has been returned to the Board, it cannot be retrieved or withdrawn. The same voter cannot vote in person in the polling place on Election Day unless he or she brings the mail ballot (or a portion of it) to the election judges OR completes an affidavit stating the mail ballot was never received by the voter or that it was received and lost.

Please note, any mail ballot that is postmarked Wednesday, November 4 or later cannot be counted, by law. If a ballot envelope is placed in a mail drop box on or near Election Day, that envelope may be postmarked late and will not be eligible to be counted.

For more information, please visit the Chicago Board of Elections website.
Chicago Public Schools: Final Reopening Framework and Parent Survey
Successfully Learn at Home This Fall!
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) shared their Final Reopening Framework for the start of the 2020–21 school year. This framework gives CPS the flexibility to begin the school year learning at home and transition to hybrid learning once public health experts determine it is safe to do so.


CPS and the City of Chicago are surveying families to better understand who may need help this fall finding a safe space for their children during traditional school hours. As they assess parental needs throughout the city, they are evaluating opportunities to provide potential support with child supervision for families who have school-age children under 14 years of age.
City of Chicago Winter Design Challenge to Reimagine Winter Outdoor Dining
The City of Chicago, in partnership with IDEO, BMO Harris Bank and the Illinois Restaurant Association, launched the Winter Design Challenge, a first-of-its-kind competition that will engage community members to reimagine the winter outdoor dining experience in Chicago.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a variety of challenges to Chicago’s restaurant and bar owners, and the Winter Design Challenge will draw on the expertise and creativity of Chicago residents to propose innovative outdoor dining solutions that adhere to COVID-19 protocols. The Challenge will run from August 25 to September 7, with winners announced in mid-September. 

The Winter Design Challenge will use human-centered design principles to generate ideas that are tailor made to suit the needs of Chicago residents and take into account the many stakeholders involved – from customers to restaurant workers to construction trade workers. In partnership with IDEO, a leading global design company, the City will use design thinking to find ideas that are innovative, viable, equitable and feasible.  

All City of Chicago residents are invited to participate in the Winter Design Challenge. Submissions will be accepted on IDEO’s open innovation platform. A panel of local restaurants and community members will select one winner in each of the following categories:

  1. outdoor, standalone structures
  2. indoor-adjacent spaces and
  3. cultural shifts making winter dining more appealing.

All submissions must comply with local COVID-19 guidelines. Thanks to support from BMO Harris Bank, each winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize and opportunities to pilot their idea at restaurants and bars in the City. 
A Message from the Illinois Secretary of State
Chicago Central located at the James R. Thompson Center and Chicago Loop Express located at 69 W. Washington are temporarily closed.
All driver’s licenses, ID cards, vehicle registration, restricted driving permits and monitoring device driving permits that are currently expired or set to expire by Sept. 30 have been extended until Nov. 1, 2020.

All employees are wearing face masks and customers are required to do the same. Plexiglass dividers have been installed at all work stations and tape has been applied to the floor in 6-foot intervals to follow social distancing guidelines, limiting the number of customers inside a facility at one time.

Please be patient and prepared to wait outside in various types of weather. This is due to social distancing, which limits the number of people inside a facility at one time.

Secretary of State and State Treasurer have waived E-check payment processing for vehicle sticker renewal, duplicate driver's license/ID card and driver's license renewal with Safe Driver Renewal.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security pushed back the REAL ID deadline one year to Oct. 1, 2021. Current Illinois driver's licenses or ID cards will continue to be accepted at airports, military bases and secure federal facilities until Oct. 1, 2021.
Take a Second for Your City - Participate in the 2020 Census
Make Yourself Count!
This year's Census will determine how billions of dollars in public funding are spent, and Chicago uses federal funding for important community services such as schools, parks, trains, roads and much more.

If you have not already completed the form, please take the next 10 minutes to complete the Census online at 2020Census.gov. We are striving for a complete count in Chicago and hope that all Chicago residents will take this opportunity to invest in their city.
Police Alerts and Community Notices
Upcoming Events
September is National Preparedness Month!
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC), in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is encouraging residents to participate in National Preparedness Month throughout the month of September. National Preparedness Month (NPM) is recognized each year to promote family and community disaster planning now and throughout the year.

Throughout the month OEMC will present educational videos on social media to ensure residents are prepared for emergencies such as a flood, blizzard, extreme heat or cold, fire, terrorist attack or a pandemic. OEMC will also be encouraging all to sign up for the Smart911 services to better assist residents in an emergency should they ever have to call 9-1-1. 

The 2020 National Preparedness Month theme is "Disasters Don’t Wait. Make Your Plan Today.” Each week will offer an activity all residents can perform on their own or with family and friends. Emergency preparedness information, tips and helpful links are available on OEMC’s website.

  • September 1-5: Make A Plan
  • Know how to prepare for disasters that include how you will communicate with family and friends during disasters, reviewing insurance papers, and much more.  
  • September 6-12: Build A Kit
  • You’ll need items to survive during a disaster that includes supplies you may need at home as well as a go kit of items you may need if you must evacuate quickly to a safer location.  
  • September 13-19: Prepare for Disasters
  • Find out the best way to limit the impacts a disaster may have, like having the right insurance coverage or what can you do to your home to make it stronger and more resilient. 
  • September 10-26: Teach Youth About Preparedness
  • Take the time now and talk with your children to reassure them. Teach them lessons on preparedness. Make family preparedness a fun annual event.  

Throughout National Preparedness month, OEMC will present the SAFE CHICAGO video series to prepare residents and City of Chicago employees how be prepared for emergencies and how to help save lives. Topics will include: what you need to know when you call 9-1-1 with OEMC call-takers and dispatchers, how to be ready and what to do in emergencies featuring OEMC Emergency Managers, how to be prepared during the pandemic and more. 

For complete details on emergency preparedness information and tips are available on OEMC’s website or the FEMA website. 
Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz Festival
September 3-6, 2020
The “Millennium Park at Home: Chicago Jazz” series will offer four days of free, virtual performances programmed with the Jazz Institute of Chicago over Labor Day Weekend starting Thursday, September 3 through Sunday, September 6 from 4-8 pm. 

For more information about these upcoming virtual events, please visit millenniumpark.org.
Live from the Library!
Weekdays at 10:00am
Watch story times with Chicagoans you know and love at Live from the Library! See a new reader at 10 a.m. every weekday, or browse past story times on Facebook Live. Guest readers include Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the Obamas, Oprah Winfrey and Jeff Tweedy, as well as Chicago Public Library (CPL) children's librarians.

Individuals can watch past and live videos each weekday on CPL's Facebook page.
City of Chicago Farmers Markets
Considered essential businesses, the Chicago City Markets managed by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) began a phased reopening in June to increase neighborhood access to fresh and healthy food.  

Markets are following specific precautions to encourage social distancing and to protect customers and vendors. All farmers markets are required to follow social distancing protocols geared towards transitioning farmers markets to an 'In and Out' model, allowing customers to shop for food without extraneous congregating.  

Customers should note:  
  • Face coverings will be required (for staff and vendors too) and worn over nose and mouth, unless a person has a medical condition or disability that prevents safely wearing a face covering or is a child under the age of two 
  • Only vendors may handle produce; customers may not touch produce until after purchase 
  • Customers should not enter if currently exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.  
  • Entry will be prohibited to anyone with displayed or self-identified symptoms 

Below is a list of markets in or near the 42nd Ward: 
TUESDAYS
Federal Plaza City Market  
50 W. Adams St. 
August 4 - October 27, 7am - 2pm 
 
SOAR Farmers Market 
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
220 E. Chicago Ave. 
June 23 - October 27, 7am - 2pm 
SATURDAYS (all near the 42nd Ward)  
Division Street City Market  
100 W. Division St. 
June 20 - October 31, 7am - Noon 
 
Green City Market Lincoln Park
1801 N. Clark St. 
June 13 - October 31, 7am - 1pm 
 
Printers Row City Market  
700 S. Dearborn St. 
July 18 - October 24, 7am - Noon 
 
Green City Market West Loop 
115 S. Sangamon St. 
June 20 - October 31, 8am - 1pm 
For more information about the City Markets program, please click here.
42nd Ward CAPS Meetings
CAPS meetings offer city residents an opportunity to address crime and safety issues directly with the beat officers who patrol their neighborhood, as well as to provide ongoing feedback, which help the police to monitor crime issues.

Beats 1821, 1822, 1823, and 1824 will be meeting at 6:00pm on Tuesday, September 8. Please email caps.018district@chicagopolice.org for virtual meeting info.

Beats 121, 122, 123, and 124 will be meeting at 6:30pm on Wednesday, September 9. Please email caps.001@chicagopolice.org for virtual meeting info.

Please make sure to confirm the details for upcoming meetings with your Police District's CAPS office. 

1st District: 312-745-4381
12th District: 312-746-8306
18th District: 312-742-5778

To find your district and beat, please click here.
42nd Ward Street Closures and Construction Notices
Film Notice in the Loop
On Wednesday, September 9, from 9am-6pm, Balbo Drive, from Michigan Avenue to State Street will be closed to film scenes for an upcoming TV series.
 
In preparation for the filming, parking will be prohibited on both sides of Balbo Drive, between Michigan Avenue and State Street from 5am-6pm to park essential vehicles and equipment.

CTA Elevated Brown Line Track Maintenance
Starting Saturday, September 19, the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) will begin structural maintenance on the Elevated Brown Line Track over Franklin Street, between Ohio Street and Huron Street. During the work, the following will be closed as needed:

Alleys on both sides of Franklin Street, between Ohio Street and Huron Street
Curb/Traffic lanes on both sides of Franklin Street, between Ohio Street and Huron Street
Sidewalks on both sides of Franklin Street, between Ohio Street and Huron Street

The CTA plans to work Monday-Friday, from 7am-3:30pm and Saturday-Sunday, from 7am-6pm. This project will cause moderate noise.

All work is expected to be completed by Sunday, November 15, 2020.  

Temporary CTA Bus Stop Relocation
Due to construction, the following bus stop change will take place, effective on Friday, August 28, 2020 until Friday, September 18, 2020 or completion.
 
Dearborn between Lake St. and Wacker Dr. (northbound, mid-block)
  • Temporary bus stop elimination
  • Stop ID Number: 1885
  • Route Stopping: #22 – Clark, #36 – Broadway, #62 – Archer
 
CTA Sidewalk Repair: 182 West Lake Street
Starting Monday, September 7, the Chicago Transit Authority will be upgrading the sidewalk grating at 182 West Lake Street. Work hours are 7am-3pm, Monday-Friday. 
 
During the project, the sidewalk may be partially closed as needed. All work is expected to be completed by Friday, Saturday 25. 

AT&T Fiber Optic Installation

Starting at the end of the third quarter, AT&T plans to install fiber optic cable at 550 W. Washington Street. The work will occur at the northwest corner of Washington Street and Clinton Street. 

Lane/sidewalk closures will occur as needed.

IJKL Host and Crane Jump

As work continues rapidly on the LSE IJKL site, Lendlease Construction will be jumping (increasing the height) to its hoists and cranes over the weekends listed below:

  • Building KL Crane Jump: Saturday September 12th – Sunday September 13th

For safety, no other production work will occur on site during these jumps. All dates are weather dependent and if any changes occur, an updated schedule will be issued.

Arcade Place Intermittent Closure

Starting Tuesday, September 1, Executive Construction will be removing the pedestrian bridge between 10 S. LaSalle Street and 5 S. LaSalle Street. During the project, Arcade Place, between Wells Street and LaSalle Street will be closed intermittently to install and remove scaffold. 

All work is expected to be completed by in mid-November (weather dependent).

River North CTA Bus Stop Change

Due to construction, the following CTA Bus Stop change will take place:

  • Wells at Hubbard (southbound, nearside)-temporary bus stop elimination
  • Stop ID Number: 5021
  • Routes Stopping: #37 - Sedgwick, #125 - Water Tower Express

This bus stop change will go into effect on Monday, August 17, 2020 at 9:00 am until Friday, September 18, 2020 or completion.

St. Clair Water Main Installation

Starting mid-September the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) will install 1,508 feet of 8-inch water main on the west side of St. Clair Street, between Illinois Street and Superior Street. 

Throughout the project, portions of the southbound traffic/curb lane and sidewalk will be closed as needed. Work will be conducted from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily. 

After the new water main has been installed, the described area will experience an increase in the availability of water for fire protection and domestic use. 

This project is anticipated to be completed in mid-November 2020.

Overnight Parking Ban Downtown this Weekend

Starting tonight at midnight until Tuesday, September 8, overnight parking will be restricted on the following streets:  

  • Both sides of Oak, between Michigan and Clark 
  • South side of Oak, between LaSalle and Wells 
  • Both sides of Chicago, between Michigan and Wells 
  • Both sides of Ohio, between Michigan and Wells 
  • Both sides of Hubbard, between Michigan and Wells 
  • North side of Illinois, between Dearborn and Clark 
  • Both sides of Illinois, between Wabash and Dearborn 
  • Both sides of Rush, between Grand and Ohio 
  • Both sides of Rush, between Erie and Oak 
  • Both sides of Wabash, between the Chicago River and Grand 
  • Both sides of State, between Kinzie and Oak 
  • Both sides of Erie, from Rush to Wells 
  • Both sides of Huron from Rush to Wabash 
  • Both sides of New Street, from Illinois to North Water
  • Both sides of Columbus Drive, from Monroe to Balbo 
  • North side of Wacker Drive Wabash to Michigan
  • North side of Wacker Drive, from Franklin to Columbus 
  • Both sides of Wacker Drive, from State to Wabash 
  • Both sides of Stetson, from Randolph to Wacker 
  • Both sides of Columbus Drive, from Randolph to Wacker 
  • Both sides of Beaubien Court, from Randolph to Lake 
  • Both sides of Randolph, from Harbor to Michigan 
  • Both sides of Ohio, from Michigan to Fairbanks

Chicago Police Department Commander Jill Stevens (18th District) and Commander Jacob Alderden (1st District) have ordered this temporary overnight parking ban to encourage restaurant and bar patrons to return home after dining out.  

As always, please make sure to read all posted signage before parking your vehicle downtown. 
 
Sidewalk Closure: Northwestern Memorial Galter Huron Entrance Renovation

The sidewalk in front of 201 East Huron Street will be closed for Northwestern Memorial's Galter Pavilion Huron Entrance Renovation project. Construction hours will be 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Throughout the project's duration, eastbound and westbound pedestrian traffic will be directed to the north side of East Huron Street.

The project is anticipated to be completed by Friday, September 31, 2020.

Wells Street Gas Main Replacement

People's Gas is replacing a gas main on North Wells, between Chicago Avenue and Illinois Street. Work will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., daily. 

Throughout the project, one lane of traffic will be maintained in both directions. The following side streets will have lane reductions between North Franklin and North LaSalle:

  • Superior
  • Huron
  • Erie
  • Ohio
  • Ontario
  • Grand
  • Illinois

This project is scheduled to be completed by Thursday, October 1, 2020. 

Arterial Street ADA Ramp Improvement Project

The Chicago Department of Transportation has begun its Arterial Street ADA Ramp Improvement Project.

The work will include replacing ADA ramps and tiles at the following locations: 

  • The northeast corner of Superior Street and Orleans Street

This project requires temporary sidewalk and lane closures as needed. All work is scheduled to be completed by September 15, 2020.  

Dearborn Street Arterial Street Resurfacing Project

As part of the Chicago Department of Transportation's Arterial Street Resurfacing Project, Dearborn Street, between Madison Street and Polk Street will be resurfaced. 

The work will include ADA sidewalk improvements, curb and gutter removal and replacement, milling and paving the existing asphalt pavement, and striping.

During construction, temporary "No Parking" signs will be periodically installed as required for each activity listed above. These temporary signs will restrict parking during working hours, while adhering to rush hour restrictions, for the completion of the work.

All work on this corridor is scheduled to be completed by September 15, 2020.

Jane Byrne Interchange Closures and Detours

Beginning Monday, August 31 at 5:00am (weather permitting), the Adams Street bridge will close from Halsted Street to Desplaines Street. The bridge will be demolished and rebuilt, anticipated to reopen in the Fall of 2022. The Adams Street entrance and exit ramps to I-90/94 will also close with traffic entering the interstate via Madison Street and traffic exiting the interstate via Monroe Street. 

Detour routes for pedestrians and drivers are below: 

Vehicular Traffic will be directed south on Desplaines, west on Van Buren, and north on Halsted and then can continue west on Adams. 

Pedestrians should use the Monroe Street bridge as a detour route. 

The Adams Street bridge marks the final major bridge closure at the Jane Byrne Interchange for the 2020 construction season. The new bridge will have two westbound lanes and wider sidewalks on both sides of the street, enhancing connections and improving safety for all transportation users in the surrounding neighborhoods. 

For more information about the Jane Byrne Interchange project, please visit janebyrneinterchange.org.

Navy Pier Flyover Phase 3 Updates

The Navy Pier Flyover is an elevated path for safer walking and biking along the Lakefront Trail near Navy Pier - 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 elevated path will include ground-level entrance and exit points. 

Navy Pier Flyover construction has entered its third and final phase. In this phase, crews are rehabilitating the moveable bridge over the Chicago River to accommodate a widened Lakefront Trail path. 

Vehicle Impacts:

Phase three of the Navy Pier Flyover construction project kicked off the end of April 2019 with the rehabilitation of the movable bridge across the Chicago River. This work will be completed in multiple stages with varied traffic impacts.

This stage of the project will close the two easternmost, northbound lanes on Lower Lake Shore Drive over the Chicago River. During this closure, access to Illinois Street and Grand Avenue from the northbound lanes of Lower Lake Shore Drive will be restricted, and a detour will be set up to Columbus Avenue.

Northbound traffic crossing the river will only be able to access the entrance ramp to northbound Upper Lake Shore Drive. All other turns to and from Lower Lake Shore Drive will be maintained. See maps below.

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Impacts:

Access to the Lakefront Trail will remain open during construction, however bicyclists and pedestrians will be moved into a new, temporary two-way path created in a protected northbound traffic lane during this work.

Nearby residents may experience some construction noise during this period from jackhammers and saws. This work is being scheduled during daytime hours to limit the noise impact.

For more information and regular updates about the project, please visit navypierflyover.com. 

One Chicago Square-1 W Chicago Pedestrian and Traffic Impacts

Although fencing is already in place for the sidewalk closure, pedestrians still have access to the sidewalk, but should exercise caution when walking by the construction site. 
 
The Curb Lanes along Chicago, State, Superior, and Dearborn will remain a No Parking/Tow Zone throughout the project, to allow for demolition, and then the protected pedestrian walkway.

The sidewalk along the east side of Dearborn, from Superior to Chicago, has been closed to pedestrian traffic. Pedestrians will be rerouted to the west side of Dearborn. 
 
Please stay tuned to Reilly Reports as additional construction updates and closures will be announced.

Vista Construction Update and Traffic Impact

Re-opening of Field Boulevard for vehicular traffic and pedestrians:

  • Due to safety precautions that involve the work overhead of public spaces and CDOT requirements, Magellan cannot open the underpass until initial occupancy.

Upper Wacker Drive within Project Scope:

  • Due to safety precautions, CDOT has permitted McHugh construction to take a portion of the Upper Level of Wacker Drive until the building achieves initial occupancy.

No-Left-Turn Configuration:
  • Until initial occupancy, when Wacker traffic can be directed eastbound through the new intersection, and then westbound along the north leg of Wacker, the current no-left-turn configuration will remain in place.
 
For more information or to speak with the General Contractor for the project, please contact McHugh Construction Company's Senior Project Manager for Vista, Joe Kuna at jkuna@mchughconstruction.com.