Services

 “We Will Chicago” is a set of goals and objectives to guide City priorities for the next 10 years.   Research teams assessed citywide needs for eight quality of life “pillars,” and proposed a set of specific goals, objectives and policy ideas to address those needs. Proposed goals and objectives were reviewed by the public in the fall of 2022. Cindy Fish served as the Research Lead for the Transportation & Infrastructure Pillar. In this role, she supported a group of nearly 30 residents, community partners, and city/agency staff addressing physical infrastructure and networks  

 The TSD will help guide future development that meets community vision and enhances economic vitality, transit ridership, multimodal connectivity, the pedestrian environment, and preserves affordable housing. FTG services focused on development of a multimodal mobility network for the proposed RLE new stations, addressing station area access and circulation, provide expanded multimodal transportation choices, accessibility improvements, and First/Last Mile connections. A “Complete Streets” approach was used to provide a framework for developing integrated mobility, that addresses not only travel lanes, but crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes, and transit stops. 

FTG, as part of a multi-disciplinary team, worked to create a plan for the 79th Street corridor in the Auburn Gresham community area. The Plan will help Auburn Gresham residents and the City identify and implement strategies and projects to improve the area surrounding the transit hubs along the corridor and focus on ways to strengthen  connections between land uses and access to transit along the corridor. FTG developed strategies supportive of a multi-modal network prioritizing walking, biking, and using transit. Recommendations included streetscape elements to support pedestrian and transit accessibility and safety; bicycle connections to existing bike facilities and the new Metra station, and a proposal to develop Mobility Hubs at select locations along the corridor to expand travel choices and connections.

  FTG, teamed with V3 Companies, was retained by Bally’s Corporation to complete a traffic impact study for a proposed entertainment district and residential redevelopment located at the existing Chicago Tribune printing plant property. The  conceptual site plan was proposed to include

a casino area with a total of 4,000 gaming positions, 500-room hotel, restaurant, retail, and bar space, and a 3,000-seat theatre

The traffic study purpose was to evaluate the potential traffic impacts of the proposed entertainment district which will open in 2026 and the full redevelopment anticipated to be built out by 2032. As part of this study, traffic counts were collected at 26 study area intersections. The project was approved by the Chicago City Council in May 2023.

 The Black Ensemble Theater initiated a traffic study for the Free to BE Village, proposed along Clark Street near Sunnyside Avenue.   The BET currently exists with a 300-seat theatre located on the west side of Clark Street. This new Free To Be Village center will provide new arts-oriented uses and also complement the existing BET theatre use. 

The purpose of this study was to identify traffic to and from the Site area generated by the new development and evaluate impacts to the surrounding street network.  

 FTG completed a comprehensive assessment of current conditions and identified preliminary operational issues and modal conflicts.    

The preliminary range of possible alternatives included were based on a Complete Streets approach which by definition includes trucks. Strategies included: traffic calming to direct truck traffic to the appropriate streets such as tighter turning radii and roundabouts, enhanced pedestrian crossings, roadway and signal improvements, weight limits, truck routing signage/wayfinding, and establish a multi-jurisdictional freight working group.

As part of the South Lakefront and Museum Campus Study team, FTG completed turning movement counts at 20 locations during typical Saturdays and special events including a Chicago Sky basketball game and a Chicago Bears football game. Special pedestrian counts were also completed at the Museum Campus and 18th Street pedestrian tunnels. 

 Prioritizing safety in all street designs is a core tenet of Vision Zero. Data collected by FTG was supportive of this principle and was used to develop traffic safety improvements emphasizing designs that makes streets safe for all users and prior­itizes pedestrian safety, FTG completed traffic data collection including AM and PM peak-hour traffic counts at key intersections and ADT/speed counts along each of the five corridors. Additionally, FTG completed field condition surveys addressing parking utilization, driveway utilization and conflicts, mid-block crossing locations, high pedestrian volumes, and other unique traffic-related characteristics.  

 FTG has worked on various SCAT projects throughout Illinois over the past decade, conducting traffic data collection activities. Various types of traffic data have been collected, which has included average daily vehicle (ADT) counts ranging from 24-hours to a week, intersection turning movement counts ranging from peak hour counts to 12-hour counts, and general field reconnaissance to identify intersection geometrics, driveway locations, railroad crossings, or other items that impact traffic flow.