Drivers blocking bike and bus lanes Downtown will start receiving warnings and tickets in the mail under the two-year Smart Streets pilot program.
by Melody Mercado November 4, 2024 Block Club
DOWNTOWN — A pilot program that automatically sends tickets to drivers blocking bike and bus lanes Downtown launched Monday — nearly two years after the city approved it.
The Smart Streets pilot program, passed in March 2023, calls for the use of city cameras to catch and ticket drivers illegally parked in bike lanes, bus-only lanes, bus stops and crosswalks.
The pilot program’s boundaries run from Lake Michigan to Ashland Avenue and from North Avenue to Roosevelt Road.
During the first 30 days of the program, the city will only be issuing warnings via mail to registered car owners found parking in bike and bus lanes. Starting Dec. 5, drivers found in violation will receive a mailed notice for the first offense and then will be fined for subsequent violations, according to a press release.
Fines for blocking a bike lane are $250. Low-income drivers will be eligible for car-related debt assistance through the Clear Path Relief program, according to the city.
“Through automated technology to enforce parking violations in bus and bike lanes, this pilot program helps us improve transit reliability and protect our vulnerable road users,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a statement.
City officials announce the start of the Smart Streets pilot program, which creates a system to mail tickets to drivers caught by city cameras blocking bike lanes and bus stops in the Downtown area. The pilot program was supposed to last two years after its passage, but the timeline was extended in July after the program’s start was significantly delayed. The Chicago Department of Transportation said the delay was due to difficulties finding a vendor for the program, according to Ald. Brendan Reilly’s (42nd) office.
On Sept. 30, the city awarded Modaxo Traffic Management USA INC, an Iowa-based technology company, a contract worth upwards of $2.2 million to lead the pilot program, according to city records.
The company retrofitted eight city vehicles with cameras to enforce the parking violations within the program’s pilot area, according to a press release.
The program will be active for two years after the first official ticket is issued. Because of this, the city’s transportation agency estimates the program will last until somewhere between fall 2026 and winter 2027.
“By keeping bus and bike lanes clear of illegal parking, we can ensure that Chicago’s growing network of dedicated bus and bike lanes are operating at their full potential, improving safety while also reducing delays for commuters and improving orderly traffic flow,” transportation department Commissioner Tom Carney said in a statement.
In 2025, the Chicago Transit Authority plans to install camera-ticketing equipment on up to six buses. The city is currently in the procurement process for this, according to a press release.
Before the end of the Smart Streets pilot program, the city’s transportation and finance departments will provide a report to the City Council with information on the program’s effectiveness in improving traffic safety.
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