Chicago Avenue Improvements

The Village of Oak Park is planning a project along Chicago Avenue to make traffic safety improvements and streetscape enhancements that will recognize the legacy and impact of Dr. Percy Julian.

As part of the initial phase, safety improvements are being planned for Chicago Avenue between Marion Street and Ridgeland Avenue. This work is expected to be completed in 2027.

The second phase will include safety improvements from Ridgeland Avenue to Austin Boulevard and streetscape enhancements, educational displays about Dr. Julian and public art from East Avenue to Austin Boulevard. This phase is tentatively scheduled for 2028.

The project builds on the Vision Zero Action Plan adopted in 2025 and initial discussions to honor Dr. Julian held in 2025 and 2026.

Provide your input at Nov. 17 public meeting!

Representatives from the Oak Park Public Works Department and firms working on the project will provide an update on the engineering services planned for Chicago Avenue at a public meeting set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at Beye Elementary School, 230 N. Cuyler Ave.

The proposed 2027 safety improvements will impact parking on Chicago Avenue, and public input is particularly being sought on how best to remediate these impacts.

Anyone who is unable to attend will be able to watch a recording of the presentation and submit input on this page after the Nov. 17 meeting.

Traffic safety background

The Vision Zero Action Plan adopted in 2025 identified certain stretches of roadway within the Oak Park as part of the High Injury Network. These locations see the highest concentrations of severe traffic crashes causing fatalities and serious injuries. Most of Chicago Avenue within the Village is designated high injury segments.

The Vision Zero Action Plan also recommended treatments to address the most common accident types along Chicago Avenue and called for further study.

As a first step in this process, a safety study was performed on the corridor with an analysis of the accident history of each intersection, traffic and speed counts and on site observation. This study confirmed the safety issues that were found as part of the high-injury network analysis and set out to ensure that the proposed safety improvements address the issues along the corridor.

Additionally, a parking utilization study was completed to observe parking along the corridor and possible impacts to existing parking from the proposed safety improvements.

The safety and parking study, exhibits showing the proposed safety improvements and the design report for the streetscape improvements honoring Dr. Percy Julian will be available on this page for review prior to the Nov. 17 public meeting.