NYCSR in Chicago
In March 2007, The Project for Public Spaces' Fred Kent visited Chicago to meet with many of the key leaders in the Livable Streets movement. Kit Hodge, who was a key figure with NYCSR's birth in NYC, arranged several meetings and presentations - including a very productive, private meeting with Cheri Heramb, the Commissioner of Chicago DOT.
It's apparent that Chicago is on its way to developing and implementing key strategies that will transform its streets into safer, interactive public places. Just one is Mayor Richard Daley's Pedestrian Advisory Council of which Heramb is a co-chair. But even more vital is the air of cooperation and openess that exists in the city government to make a good faith effort to work with communities and advocates to change Chicago for the better.
It's very cool to see how willing Chicago's leaders are to think about people-oriented planning.
If only New York's transporation leaders would take a risk, think outside their "band-aid" policies, and re-center their planning on the millions of pedestrians in this city.