Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Sheridan Road
Sheridan Road is one of the densely populated streets in Chicago, and home to a number of vulnerable populations including older adults. Pedestrian safety on Sheridan Road is a top priority of our office, and we are collaborating with neighbors, community leaders, and CDOT on a number of initiatives to slow down cars, create pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, and organize our streets to improve safety for all users.
We have made improvements to over 65 intersections in the 48th ward including nearly every intersection on Sheridan Road. These include safer crosswalks, neighborhood greenways, pedestrian improvements, bike infrastructure, and safer street designs; all proven measures that help save lives.
Sidewalk Geofencing (2026)
To prevent e-scooter/e-bike and pedestrian conflict and improve safety for everyone using Sheridan Road, we coordinated with CDOT to expand the existing geofenced no-ride zone for shared e-scooters to include Sheridan Road sidewalks between Bryn Mawr and West Sheridan Road, and created a new geofence no-ride zone for shared e-bikes on Sheridan Road sidewalks between Ardmore and West Sheridan Road. We encourage scooter users to utilize the neighborhood greenways on nearby Kenmore and Winthrop.
Resurfacing on Sheridan from Bryn Mawr to Montrose (2026)
Arterial resurfacing of Sheridan Road from Foster to Montrose was completed in 2026.
Resurfacing of Sheridan from Foster to Bryn Mawr will be scheduled after the completion of a Department of Water Management project. In the meantime, our office has been diligently filling potholes until a complete resurfacing can happen. Please continue to report all pot holes to 311 or to our office.
Accessible Pedestrian Signals (2026)
In 2026, we doubled the number of accessible pedestrian signals (APS) in the 48th ward. The new APS locations include the following:
Sheridan & Balmoral
Sheridan & Glenlake
Sheridan & Argyle
Broadway & Balmoral
Broadway & Argyle
Broadway & Ainslie
Upgraded Arterial Lighting (2026)
Upgraded arterial street lighting is scheduled to be installed on Sheridan from Catalpa-Berwyn in 2026/2027.
Smart Streets Pilot Program (2026)
Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth is proud to support the Smart Streets pilot, which is showing meaningful results. The program targets vehicles that illegally block bike lanes and bus lanes using cameras mounted on City of Chicago vehicles and CTA buses. The cameras capture violations with fines of up to $250. In less than two years, the city has issued tens of thousands of warnings and citations, generating nearly $2.6 million in fines. Unsurprisingly, corporate delivery giants, Amazon, Fed Ex, and UPS are the top three ticketed violators.
The most important outcome, however, isn't the revenue, it's the behavioral change. Before Smart Streets, nearly 16% of drivers who were cited for illegally blocking bus or bike lanes committed another violation within 90 days. Since the program's implementation, that recidivism rate has dropped to below 8%. The city now plans to significantly expand the program by equipping more City and CTA vehicles with enforcement cameras. Programs like Smart Streets don't just generate revenue, they make our streets safer, and ultimately save lives.
New Speed Camera (2025)
We added a speed camera to Sheridan Road between Glenlake and Granville. The location of the speed camera was determined in collaboration with CDOT and the community, and will ticket speeders going both north and south-bound.
8 new speed limit signs have been installed near the speed camera.
Decorative Cross-Walks (2025)
In 2024, the community voted to add decorative cross-walks to five intersections on Sheridan Road. These cross-walks give the street a pedestrian-friendly look and feel that reminds drivers that there are people here. This $240,000 project was on the ballot during the first ever 48th ward participatory budgeting vote. The decorative cross-walks were installed in 2025 at the locations listed below.
Sheridan & Rosemont
Sheridan & Granville
Sheridan & Glenlake
Sheridan & Thorndale
Sheridan & Ardmore
Decorative cross-walks on Bryn Mawr including Sheridan & Bryn Mawr have been funded via Participatory Budgeting and are in the queue for construction.
Organizing our Streets (2025)
Cyclists on the sidewalks on Sheridan Road and Foster are a major issue in the 48th Ward. In the past, signage and fines have been used as the main deterrents to prevent cyclists from going on the sidewalk. However, we see this as a band-aid solution that doesn’t address the core issue.
At the core of this issue was a major gap in the Bike Grid. There was no east-west route to the Lakefront Trail in Edgewater, which prevented cyclists from knowing exactly where to cross Sheridan Road. The lack of a clear route results in cyclists arriving at and crossing Sheridan Road at every intersection as they head towards the Lakeshore Trail. When cyclists reach Sheridan Road and find that it’s too dangerous to bike in the street, they choose to cycle illegally on the sidewalk, which has resulted in cyclist and pedestrian collisions and injuries.
To address this issue, we worked closely with CDOT and neighbors on the creation of two new east/west routes from the North Shore Channel Trail to the Lakefront Trail. These new routes will encourage cyclists to cross Sheridan Road at two locations, Ardmore and Berwyn, preventing them from ending up on the sidewalk. When we organize our streets with clear spaces for pedestrians, cars, and cyclists, we keep us all safer.
You can read more about these two new projects here:
Berwyn Greenway: The Berwyn Greenway was completed in 2025, creating a bike path from the North Shore Channel Trail to the Lakefront Trail. The project included a new traffic signal at Ashland and Berwyn to allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely cross Ashland, and pavement markings in the Meadows.
Granville Pedestrian Safety: The Granville Pedestrian Safety Project was implemented in 2025, connecting the North Shore Channel Trail to the Lakefront Trail via the already existing bike routes on Kenmore/Winthrop and Ardmore.
New Bike Signage (2025)
In 2025, we installed/replaced 13 signs up and down Sheridan Road reminding cyclists that there is a $200 fine for riding a bike on Sheridan Road.
We have installed three new directional signs to point cyclists towards the bike path.
Granville & Sheridan - Two Signs
Thorndale & Sheridan - One new Sign; One Existing Sign
In collaboration with local community groups along Sheridan Rd, we have distributed friendly “Walk Your Wheels” signs to remind bicyclists, skateboarders, and scooter-riders to walk, not ride, on sidewalks. If you would like to display a “Walk Your Wheels” sign, contact our office.
Traffic Light at Sheridan & Balmoral (2025)
In March 2025, we replaced the missing traffic light that hangs over the street at Sheridan and Balmoral.
Referendum: Pedestrian Safety Proposal for Sheridan & Bryn Mawr (2025)
We included a referendum on the 2025 Participatory Budget ballot asking neighbors if they want to revisit a project from 2017. The project includes pedestrian safety improvements on Bryn Mawr between Sheridan and DLSD including at the DLSD on-ramp.
Reversible Traffic Lanes on DLSD (2025)
In 2024, the rush hour reversible traffic lanes at the entrance to DLSD were closed during resurfacing. This resulted in traffic backing up along Sheridan Road, creating an unsafe environment for all. Alderwoman Manaa-Hoppenworth advocated for the return of the reversible traffic lanes, and they were put back in place in early 2025.
Increased Walk Time at Sheridan & Glenlake (2024)
We worked with CDOT to review and design a new timing plan at Sheridan & Glenlake. This resulted in increasing the “walk” time for crossing Sheridan by 3 seconds (12 to 15 seconds). This was done by shifting 3 seconds of green time from Sheridan to Glenlake.
Improvements at Catalpa & Sheridan (2024)
In 2024, we worked with CDOT and community members on a traffic study at Catalpa and Sheridan which resulted in the following:
“Stop Ahead” Pavement Markings in the approach to Catalpa for north and southbound traffic
New “Stop Ahead” signage for northbound traffic
Re-positioning of the “Stop Ahead” sign for southbound traffic to enhance visibility
In 2026/2027, we plan to install decorative cross-walks at this intersection. We are coordinating the timing with DWM and CDOT based on other projects on the block.
Broken Speed Indicator Replacement (2024)
In 2024, we replaced the broken speed indicator at 6147 N Sheridan Road. This speed indicator was hit by a car and broken beyond repair. The speed indicator works in collaboration with the new speed camera to slow down cars on Sheridan Road.
Secured CPD Bike Patrol
We have worked with the 20th District to secure bike patrol along the Lakefront including Sheridan Road south of Thorndale. The bike patrol will include ticketing cyclists riding on the sidewalk.