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Will Daley Deliver with New Transportation Commissioner?by crandell | 06/29/2009 Chicago apparently has a job opening for Transportation Commissioner. The Sun-Times reports today that Daley is replacing Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Michael Picardi with Transportation Commissioner Thomas Byrne, which leaves me wondering who our new Transportation Commissioner will be. What are the chances we'll actually get someone progressive for this post, or even someone who knows anything about transportation? It's exciting to think about what a good person in this position could do for Chicago. We need someone who understands that transportation is about enabling a thriving city by helping people get around -- it's not just about moving cars through the city more quickly. PSSST, Mayor Daley, please steal this woman for the job!
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You think the cars move more
You think the cars move more quickly around the city than before Commissioner Byrne took the job? Do you really think that was or is the focus of CDOT?
Our bike lanes are just good
Our bike lanes are just good enough that 20/30-somethings overcome the learning curve of city cycling. The true test is when people of all ages feel comfortable on the streets. Empirical evidence from around the world shows that attractive cycling infrastructure leads to a mostly even distribution across ages and between men and women. We have much work to do before Chicago can show those kinds of numbers.
Chicago loses billions of dollars each year to congestion and health costs related to pollution. Not to mention the hundreds of deaths related to traffic violence. We'd benefit greatly from a forward-thinking commissioner like Janette Sadik-Khan in New York.
Update: Thomas Powers will
Update: Thomas Powers will serve as acting CDOT commissioner, per comments at the Windy Citizen.
It's time for Chicago to
It's time for Chicago to move in a new direction and make some necessary changes. Kudos to Daley - if something isn't working right, do something to change it. I just hope it is change for the better.