Chicago City Wire

Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) have marked a milestone with the completion of safety improvements on Milwaukee Avenue, pushing the total of new bikeways installed under Johnson’s administration to over 100 miles. This achievement is part of a broader effort to improve traffic safety in Chicago, which has seen about a 30% decrease in traffic fatalities since 2021.

“Building safer streets for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers is a vital facet of our work building healthy, whole, and safe communities across our city,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “Today we celebrate a historic milestone—over 100 miles of new bikeways installed in just the first two years of our administration. These projects are making a real difference in our mission to prevent traffic fatalities and build safer, more livable communities. I look forward to continuing to work with CDOT and leaders like Alderman La Spata as we build out a safer transportation network across Chicago.”

CDOT Acting Commissioner Craig Turner commented on the city’s progress: “Chicago has made significant progress in recent years, surpassing 100 miles of new bikeways under Mayor Johnson’s leadership and seeing traffic fatalities continue to decline. Our work on Milwaukee Avenue is just one example of how we’re redesigning streets to reflect the different ways people move around Chicago. We look forward to building on this momentum to make Chicago’s streets even safer and more connected in the years ahead.”

The latest project involved resurfacing Milwaukee Avenue between Kinzie Street and Chicago Avenue. The upgrades included improved concrete protected bike lanes, redesigned intersections, bus boarding islands, and pedestrian safety infrastructure aimed at making the corridor safer for all users.

Alderman Daniel La Spata reflected on the impact: "It has been wonderful to watch the success of the Chicago Cycling Strategy and I'm so excited to celebrate these first 100 miles of bike lanes under Mayor Johnson. I can't help but think of Sam Bell, a 1st Ward cyclist who lost his life on this stretch several years ago. I believe he would be proud of the work that we celebrate today, to know that his death was not in vain."

Alderwoman Ruth Cruz emphasized community involvement: “Hitting this milestone is a real achievement! But it’s also a call to action. We’ve been working continuously to make improvements for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers throughout the city so that all Chicagoans can move around safely,” she said. “Each of us has a part to play in making that happen—and these advancements make it easier for all of us to live active, healthy lifestyles.”

Under current leadership, more than 100 miles of new bikeways have been constructed with expectations for over 500 miles citywide by year-end. According to CDOT data referenced by city officials [Chicago.gov/CompleteStreets](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/chicago-complete-streets.html), most recent installations are low-stress options such as protected bike lanes or neighborhood greenways designed for comfort regardless of age or ability.

Alex Perez from Active Transportation Alliance noted changes along Milwaukee Avenue: “In the past few years, Chicago streets have benefited from a surge in the number of protected bike lanes CDOT has been installing. Milwaukee Avenue, known as the busiest cycling street in the city, is finally becoming a protected bike lane corridor as sections of the street get upgraded with concrete protection. We celebrate the completion of the Milwaukee Avenue project between Chicago Avenue and Kinzie Street,” Perez said. He added that such infrastructure helps foster slower driving habits which could reduce crashes involving vulnerable road users.

The increase in cycling infrastructure aligns with rising use; Divvy bike share system usage hit record highs recently following expansions funded through public-private partnership efforts between Lyft—the operator—and city government. Sean Madison from Divvy remarked: "August's record 995,000 Divvy rides shows what happens when great infrastructure meets accessible micromobility," adding that protected lanes encourage more residents to choose bikes or scooters for their trips.

Since its peak in 2021 during pandemic-related shifts toward active transportation modes nationally [NHTSA Fatality Estimates](https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimate-traffic-fatalities-2023), U.S. cities have generally seen only modest declines—about an eight percent drop—in fatal crashes compared with Chicago's sharper decrease.

Preliminary figures show continued improvement into 2025; there were reportedly just 64 traffic fatalities—including 22 pedestrian deaths—through August this year according to local authorities’ data updates [Chicago Crash Data Portal](https://data.cityofchicago.org/Public-Safety/Traffic-Crashes-Crashes/85ca-t3if). These numbers represent some of lowest totals recorded within over ten years.

Ongoing investments rely partly on capital bond funding from Mayor Johnson’s Build Better Together initiative; enhancements like curb extensions or raised crosswalks are now standard features intended both for calming traffic flow and increasing visibility at crossings.

For additional information about ongoing projects or resources related specifically toward cycling safety programs across neighborhoods visit [Chicago.gov/CompleteStreets](https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/chicago-complete-streets.html).