E-Newsletters

STUDY SPOTLIGHTS – New

The project team continues to share project updates on key topics through Study Spotlights. In December 2023, we published four new Study Spotlights: Environmental Justice and Equity, Climate Change, Travel Markets, and Remaining Performance Criteria detailing the review of these topics that has been completed as part of the project. As a refresher, there are over 15 Study Spotlights, many of which have been developed in response to frequently asked questions. Other Study Spotlight topics include Lakefront Trail & Park Access, Safety, Noise, and Notable Alternatives Considered and Dismissed. Let us know if there are any additional topics you would like to see covered!

LEVEL 3 SCREENING – Ongoing

The project team continues to advance the Level 3 Screening process for the five remaining corridor-wide roadway alternatives. We will provide results from this screening at the next corridor-wide public meeting, currently expected to take place in spring 2024. During this meeting, a Preferred Roadway Alternative will be recommended.

After a Preferred Roadway Alternative is identified, the project team will continue to advance more detailed community-specific design decisions guided by public input, both related to roadway and junction details as well as park, trail, and other lakefront features.

ALDERMANIC BRIEFINGS – Ongoing

The project team met with the newly elected alderpeople along the study corridor to bring them up to speed on the project and its progress to date. We welcome the new City Council members and look forward to working with you in 2024!

PROJECT STUDY GROUP COORDINATION – Ongoing

The NDLSD Project Study Group includes Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and Chicago Park District (CPD). Since the study began the project team has held more than 100 meetings with CTA and CPD. Throughout 2023, meetings were held with each agency to review the remaining Level 3 screening analyses with the goal of selecting a Preferred Roadway Alternative in early 2024.

NEW WEBSITE LAUNCH – October 2023

Have you checked out our refreshed project website, NorthDuSableLSD.org?

In 2023, we redesigned our project website to improve usability, allowing you to find materials and see project updates more easily. The updated website contains all project information prepared during the past few years, and older materials can still be accessed on the archive website.

NEW VISUALIZATIONS – April 2023

To better illustrate the planned user experience along the north lakefront, we created more than twenty new visualizations. These incorporate input from the Summer 2022 Access and Experience at the Lakefront Survey and the 2022 Public Life Study.

COMMUNITY MEETINGS – April 2023

Thank you to everyone who attended the April Lakeview Community Meetings. We received valuable input on this section of the study area, which is the most physically constrained part of the NDLSD corridor. Frequently Asked Questions from these meetings are available on the project website, along with all meeting materials.

SHORELINE PROTECTION VIDEO – March 2023

We often receive questions about current and future lake water levels and how the project team is considering climate resiliency. A major component of the NDLSD project is to provide improved shoreline protection measures that address these issues. We have produced a 3-minute video to show how we have been developing and testing potential shoreline protection measures to incorporate into the corridor design.

2024 Preview

In early 2024, we will share a Study Spotlight on the Public Life Study. This will highlight results from the Access and Experience at the Lakefront Survey and the Public Life Study, and review how your feedback is shaping placemaking concepts throughout the corridor to be integrated into the design moving forward. We will also share more new visualizations to highlight additional locations throughout the corridor.

The next public meeting is expected to take place in spring 2024. During the meeting, we will explain the Level 3 Screening process and results in detail and seek your continued input. A meeting for Task Force members will be held prior to the public meeting.