Riders and business owners press CTA over Grand Avenue lane changes and Red Line outreach

At the Dec. 10 Chicago Transit Authority board meeting, a string of public commenters urged the board to take a position on proposed changes to Grand Avenue and to improve outreach and contracting practices on the Red Line Extension.

Roger Romanelli of the Fulton Market Association asked CTA to support dedicated bus lanes on Grand Avenue from Wells to Ashland and to ask the mayor to withdraw opposition. He cited ridership growth and economic-development potential for the corridor. Multiple residents and business owners echoed the call: Dan Olis and Marshall Erp said removing travel lanes for added bike lanes would harm bus reliability and economic vitality; Erp said there has been no CTA bus impact study presented and called for dedicated bus lanes instead.

Other public speakers raised concerns about outreach and contracting for the Red Line Extension. One commenter said demolition work had been awarded without community-specific outreach and asked how local small businesses and minority contractors could access opportunities. Outreach staff present in the meeting offered to follow up directly with the speakers.

CTA staff and the acting president thanked speakers for their input, said CTA is working with the Chicago Department of Transportation on a bus-priority corridor study covering five corridors (Pulaski, Western, Fullerton, 55th/Garfield and others) and reiterated that outreach and engagement would continue as projects advance.

What’s next: CTA staff said the bus-priority corridor study is ongoing with public engagement alongside CDOT; staff offered to connect petitioners and contractors with Red Line outreach staff for follow-up.