During the month of August, the University of Chicago engaged Ald. Leslie Hairston and Hyde Park residents and businesses in discussions about the potential of re-opening 57th Street as a two-way street between Lake Park Avenue and Stony Island Avenue. While the University understands that the changes will not be pursued by the alderman or the Chicago Department of Transportation at this time, recent work and discussions on the issue are summarized below for future reference.
The coming changes to Jackson Park, and increased traffic expected in the area, led UChicago to commission a traffic study to evaluate the impact of the potential reversion. The reopening as a two-way street was considered during planning for the Jackson Park Mobility Project. The scope of the final project, as determined by CDOT, did not include this change to 57th Street, and the idea was tabled for further consideration and additional public input at a later date.
The University has remained in favor of the change for several reasons, including improved safety near area elementary schools, the potential to enhance access to local businesses and UChicago’s campus from the east, to reduce nearby traffic bottlenecks, and to provide a direct connection between the cultural institutions along the corridor including the Obama Presidential Center (OPC), Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), DuSable Black History Museum, and the Oriental Institute. The original change that made part of 57th Street a one-way corridor was enacted in 1961, in conjunction with other “urban renewal” efforts of that period, and UChicago believes undoing that effort warrants consideration.
Throughout the month of August, the University’s Office of Civic Engagement convened four group sessions with those who live and operate businesses in the immediate vicinity of the potential change for an open exchange of ideas. Over 40 people participated in these group sessions including members of the Hyde Park Town House Corporations, the Harper Avenue Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, as well as representatives from businesses and organizations including The Museum of Science and Industry, Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, Open Produce, and Beverly Bank/Wintrust. UChicago also met with Ray Elementary School, Bret Harte Elementary School, and the UChicago Laboratory School.
During these meetings, traffic consultants presented a summary of the study’s findings to community members, detailing how the reversion and proposed modifications would enhance access for nearby residents and businesses, reduce bottlenecks on other nearby streets, and improve safety for local residents and area schools.
Findings from the study that were shared during these meetings included:
· The reversion to two-way would involve a limited increase in traffic on 57th Street, adding an estimated 109 additional vehicles during the busiest weekday morning hours and 51 additional vehicles during the busiest weekday evening hours at Harper Avenue, with the additional traffic on 57th Street dissipating onto other streets as it travels west. The roadway’s current designation as a minor collector would remain unchanged.
· The reversion would reduce the volume of traffic traversing 56th Street, Lake Park Avenue, Hyde Park Boulevard, and Everett Avenue, and the volume of traffic traveling southbound on Stony Island Avenue and turning right onto 59th Street.
· The reduction in traffic along 56th Street results in an improvement to the level of service and reduction in delays for several movements including westbound 56th Street at Lake Park Avenue and northbound Stony Island Avenue at 56th Street. Southbound Lake Park Avenue at 56th Street would also experience a reduction in delays.
· The change would reduce traffic near area schools including Bret Harte, UChicago Laboratory Schools, and Bright Horizons.
During the meetings, the majority of neighbors who attended expressed strong opposition to the proposal. They shared that, currently, drivers do not obey the posted traffic signs or speed limits, and this creates an unsafe environment for pedestrians and bicyclists. The anticipated increase in traffic volumes raised concerns, specifically related to visibility challenges posed by the deteriorating viaduct. Many also expressed concern that the reversion to two-way traffic could negatively impact their quality of life, changing the quiet character of their street.
The University feels that the recommendations in the traffic study would have addressed many of their concerns. For instance, the study recommended several safety improvements, including a new all-way traffic stop at 57th Street and Lake Park Avenue to slow traffic, the addition of a high-visibility crosswalk and pedestrian ramp on the west leg of the intersection of 57th Street and Lake Park Avenue to support pedestrian visibility, and opening 57th Street to allow bicycles to travel westbound which is currently prohibited. The neighbors were skeptical that the proposed changes would improve conditions, based on their observations of drivers’ current disregard for safety and traffic laws on their street.
Staff at the Office of Civic Engagement were prepared to discuss at greater length how the proposed changes to 57th Street would benefit the full community however the concerns about the impact of the reversion on the blocks closest to the proposed change made it difficult to engage in a discussion of the full merits of the plan.
UChicago continues to believe re-opening 57th Street to two-way traffic would be a positive change for Hyde Park as a whole, improving safety for local residents and area schools, reducing bottlenecks on other nearby streets, and enhancing access for nearby residents and businesses, as well as those visiting cultural destinations and the University’s campus.
While the University is still in favor of re-opening 57th Street, Alderman Hairston has indicated that the project will not be pursued at this time.