Initial Kick-off Presentation - Data Sources?

Having read through the initial presentation, multiple times, there is no reference to the sources of any data presented. Typically, facts and figures are represented with sources. Yet, no source references exist anywhere on this document, which has me concerned as to the validity of these initial statements.

Questions:

The Census Block Group references many facts and figures. However, there is no mention of any of the source data.

Where was all of this information obtained from, and from what source?

The presentation shows a diagram of commuters who use our neighborhood as a pass-through.

Was there some type of survey or study that factualizes these assumptions?

The presentation states that ride share drivers use our neighborhood as a short cut.

How was this determination made? Was there an audit of all of the drivers who use our streets and the classifications thereof?

Where is the study that proves out these facts?

Survey Result Considerations

Having seen the results of the survey, there are many questions surrounding other alternatives that could be implemented. Such a dramatic change to one of the streets within our community is not the only option, yet changing Winona seems to be the only option ever that was considered. Josh Mark at Alderman Martin’s office REPEATEDLY states through various communications that “All of this was based on the survey results from WFCW”.

This entire limited decision was based off of the results of a community survey, which state no specific majority to any overall concerns, while no plans or studies can be provided that show how this decision came to be.

Questions:

Pedestrian bump outs, planters and narrowing intersections were voted on by the majority of respondents. Why aren’t these measures being implemented as a first step measure?

The survey states that many people have received car damage. However, a one-way conversion and/or a speed bump installation will not alleviate this type of damage from occuring. Therefore, why is this a part of the overall survey? Cars will still have to get around each other on a one-way, which can still result in mirror/car damage, regardless of the direction of traffic flow.

The survey states that ‘potential strategies will be devoloped with the 47th Ward’. How/when were these potential implementation strategies to be presented to the community? Basically, a Survey Results meeting was had, and then a Virtual discussion was had, and that was it.

In none of those meetings did any solutions be presented where the community had a chance to pick from, vote on, etc.

The survey states that implemention will depend on Aldermanic support and City Council passage. Where/when did the City Council pass this type of one-way change? See below for more information on the FOIA results.

The survey states that the majority of respondents live on Winona, Carmen and Winnemac. Then why is Winona being the only street that is affected or being considered? Where is the wholistic plan to engage with all streets within the community, addressing all alternatives? The Clark Street Corridor had plans, meetings, presentations, etc. Yet, nothing like this occurred for our community.

The survey states that the volumne of non-local traffic cutting between major streets & drivers failing to stop at Stop signs were the major concerns. How will just converting Winona to a one-way alleviate these 2 majority concerns throughout the entirety of the community?

On the survey, regarding the one-way directional questions, it shows the percentages of respondents and what they would choose. There is no majority decision that is greater than 50% in any of these alternatives, with no clear alternative being the dominant direction to take. Therefore, how/why was this very limited decision to make Winona a one-way made if there is no clear majority/consensus? How are the Survey results provided any type of ‘measure’ to be used for this conversion justification?

The survey results on the pie charts don’t even line up with the percentages on the footnotes?!

Timeline

February 5th, 2025

A WFCW Block Club meeting was held to discuss the intial proposal of a Traffic Calming Study, of which, the meeting minutes are shown here. At this time, initial ideas were thrown around regarding how this could happen, ideas proposed, etc.

A presentation was made which is located here.

April 3, 2025

The Survey Results were provided during the discussion, where Josh Mark (47th Ward Chief of Staff) talked about mainly the Clark Street Corridor project.

The Meeting notes are located here, along with the Survey Results located here.

June 24th, 2025

According to a Block Club communication, a virtual meeting was held where materials were presented. However, after reading through the minutes, there was no mention of any type of plans being presented. The Alderman was asked to provide these materials presented, and there is no recording of the meeting. Josh Mark stated that he verbally presented outcomes of his conversations with CDOT, yet there is no documentation of any type of materials and/or discussions being had during this meeting.

September 10th, 2025

There was a single post on the WFCW Facebook page mentioning the Winona One-Way. No other communication was provided.

A decision and change of this magnitude should have warranted more than just a single Facebook page mention. Blink, and you would have missed it - I did!

September 11th, 2025

An Ordiance was submitted to the Chicago City Council to convert Winona to a one-way.

Ordinance will be provided when received.

October 26, 2025

The original agenda posted on our doors and Agenda posted on Facebook mentioned nothing about the Traffic Calming Study.

However, the Agenda provided during the meeting had an entire section devoted to this endeavor where it specifically stated, ‘A Winona One-Way conversion is already happening’.

November 3rd, 2025

In order to faciliate what is going on with this project, I reached out to various CDOT officials to engage with them to get some information. I emailed almost everyone on the CDOT org chart, no response was received.

November 4th, 2025

In order to faciliate what is going on with this project, I reached out to various CDOT officials to engage with them to get some information. I emailed almost everyone on the CDOT org chart, no response was received.

November 6th, 2025

I discovered that Malihe Samadi was the person who worked primarily with this endeavor. I emailed her and called her directly to discuss this project. Very nice person.

She stated to reach out to Josh Mark at Alderman Martin’s office to coordinate with him directly.

That was the extent with my conversations with CDOT.

November 6th, 2025

I sent an email to the Block Club address asking for information regading this project. The Winona One-Way decision seemed to have just come out of nowhere, and I was surprised by this.

I am very confused as to the communication surrounding this endeavor.  Beyond the Survey Results being presented at a block club meeting months ago, and an announcement last Sunday October 26th, 2025 (verbally) that this was 'happening,' I have seen no information or communication, reports, studies, etc, discussing this one-way conversion.

The 47th Ward Alderman stated that this is happening because “plans as put together with WFCW and CDOT traffic engineers”, but yet, I have not seen anything related to any

plans being presented to the community. See FOIA requests below.

Does the Block Club have this or something - Did I miss a post or email?

Comment: No reply was received.

November 6th, 2025

In order to get some information on how this decision was made, I went into the Alderman’s office to speak with Josh Mark directly. He wasn’t there, but I expressed my concerns to the attendee, requesting that Josh contact me to discuss.

Having not received a call back, I emailed Josh inquiring about this endeavor with my concerns, and the response was:

However, we will be moving forward with the plans as put together with WFCW, the community survey, and CDOT traffic engineers.”

Craig Response: I am very confused as to the communication surrounding this endeavor.  Beyond the Survey Results being presented at a block club meeting months ago, and an announcement last Sunday (verbally) at a Block Club meeting that this was 'happening,' I have seen no information or communication, reports, studies, etc, discussing this one-way conversion or anything regarding an overall plan for this community. Can you provide what you talked about here:  plans as put together with WFCW and CDOT traffic engineers??

Josh Response: You are right to point to communications. I intend to send out a mass email, as well as have the entire neighborhood flyered. What has been established is that:

• Winnemac is EB

• Winona will be WB

• Carmen will remain two-way

• Carmen (1400) and Argyle (1400) will receive speed humps to alleviate any cut-through concerns.

Craig Response: So, what you are telling me is that there is either a) no information or b) you are not going to provide the information /studies as to how this got to this point? It is of my opinion that these types of things typically go through iterations, with community input, (see Clark Street Corridor project) and all I know of is that the survey results were presented, and that's it. You are going to change the entire dynamic of the neighborhood without providing any type of documentation surrounding this decision?   No other information provided? Are you going to provide the documentation?  

Josh: The decisions I described were made on the basis of two well-attended community meetings and a well-responded survey (both of which were extensively flyered and emailed about), which I reported on to CDOT. CDOT, through their own studies (I do not have documents to share from them) agreed with the changes that were called for on Winnemac (as part of the Winnemac Neighborhood Greenway) and on Winona, and recommended that no changes be made to Carmen.

The Block Club is stating it is the Alderman making the decision, but the Alderman is stating that it is CDOT that is making the decision. All the while CDOT is stating that it is the Alderman’s decision to do this.

Questions:

What kind of mad circular reference is this?

How is it that the Alderman, who is responsible for this endeavor, has no documentation, plans, studies, surveys, etc to provide that shows how this decision came to be?

The 2 community meetings referenced were a) to present the initiation of the Survey and b) to present the results of the Survey. Other than the information that was presented in a one-line agenda item October 26th, no other mentions, updates or communications were presented since April 3rd (beyond whatever happened /discussed during the virtual meeting)

What about Argyle Avenue? What about Glenwood Avenue? What about Carmen Avenue?

Who is running this show?

The FOIA results provided show NO plans or studies that are available, therefore, what DATA was used to make this decision?

November 6th, 2025

Based on the lack of information as to HOW this Winona One-Way came to be, I was forced to do a FOIA request to CDOT. FOIA request S119095-110425 was sent asking for the following information:

My name is Craig Horvath, and I live on the 1400 block of West Carmen Avenue. Just recently, a neighboring street, Winnemac, was converted to a one-way going East bound. As a result of that implementation, my neighbor block club participants submitted a survey to engage in Traffic Calming measures throughout my block area: Winona, Carmen, Glenwood, Argyle.

I have heard rumblings that CDOT was pursuing the option of converting some streets to one-ways within those groups of streets located on the 1200-1400 W blocks ofthese streets. This is some of the information.

https://www.wfcwblockclub.com/traffic-calming-safety-committee

I am requesting the following:

*Email correspondences from the CDOT department and/or CDOT group handling this that would be involved in this effort for the year 2025 to date. Looking for communications to/from CDOT that would involve these potential calming measures and/or one-way conversion.

*Any plans, documents, exhibits or studies involving the conversion of the above streets to one-ways.

*Any meeting notes that would exist on this/these topics.

November 12th, 2025

Sent an inquiry/follow up to my request to the FOIA office for the 5 BDs have expired - no response was received via the portal.

November 13th, 2025

Sent an inquiry/follow up to my request to the FOIA office for the 5 BDs have expired - no response was received via the portal.

November 14th, 2025

Sent an inquiry to the CDOT FOIA office as a follow up via the portal and email, along with the CDOT General email and Craig Turner, the Director of CDOT - No response was received through any channel.

November 17, 2025

The following email was sent out from Alderman Martin’s office which is the only mention of any type of finalization of plans, stating, ‘this is happening in two weeks’.

Why, after these various meetings for feedback was there no ‘this is what we are doing’ meeting?

This limited decision is being shoved down our throat with no final input or comment on the decisions being made, nor any support showing the justification of those decisions.

November 17th, 2025

Sent an inquiry to the FOIA office via the portal and email, along with the CDOT General email and Craig Turner, the Director of CDOT - No response was received through any channel.

November 17th, 2025

Sent an inquiry to the FOIA office, along with the CDOT General email and Craig Turner, the Director of CDOT - No response was received via any channel.

November 18th, 2025

Based on the CDOT Org Chart, called the following people directly: Craig Turner, Alonzo Owens, Cheiko High & Dan Burke - No responses were received.

November 19th, 2025

Received this communication from the FOIA office, which was/is 5 business days BEYOND the allowable limit (ie 10 business days).

You have emailed people about this outside of the FOIA. We are adding two weeks to the time needed to properly process your request. We hope to have a response on or before November 28, 2025.

November 24th, 2025

Contacted the Public Counselor’s Office of the Attorney General of Illinois asking for guidance on a municipality not following FOIA rules. After guidance was given, sent a letter, through the portal and an email to CDOT, requesting the information.

November 25th, 2025

Received the response back from the CDOT FOIA office.

“There are no records regarding my inquiries as to studies, engineering plans related to my request. “

However, there was the introduction letter of an Ordinance on September 11, 2025.

Ordinance and additional information requested and to be posted when received.

FOIA Rules

FOIA Rules state that the municipality has 5 days to respond to a request. If more time is needed, prior to or on the 5th business day, the municipality can apply for an extension of an additional 5 business days.

Note: No application for extension was ever received, no denial was received and/or no respone stating ‘no documents exist to your request’.

Questions:

Why did CDOT not respond within the 5 business days? How is the city to allowed to ignore FOIA laws?

How is anyone supposed obtain vital information regarding this decision, if no information will be provided until 1 day before the project is to start, with the date due being basically a Holiday?

Other Neighborhood Issues

Just recently on November 7th, 2025 Axios reported that CDOT installed One-Ways w/o community input or notification.

Poor communication was a result of the confusion and problems stemming from this endeavor.

Read the Article here and Instagram post here. Residents don’t seem to be happy.

Questions:

Based on my conversations with other neighbors, no one really seemed to know that this was ACTUALLY happening nor,

do the reseidents have any information on how this limited scope decision was decided..?

Committee..what committee?

On 3 separate occassions (2/2, 2/3 and 2/6, I inquired to the Block Club email asking for the following information:

Can you please provide the name/contact information for the presenter(s) of this information ie, who is on the Committee?

In reviewing the initial proposal,  I don't see any 'solutions' being proposed. I cannot attend the meeting due to a surgery, but would like information provided if possible'

I also asked for the names of the people involved in this Committee.

Comment: No reply was ever received nor were any Committee Names ever provided.

Questions:

Who/how many people are on this committee? Was there some type of representative from each street that could address their specific concerns?

Speed Bumps

Speed bump installation is determined by an overall implemtation by the neighboring residents surrounding that proposed speed hump location. General speed humps are not installed based on a ‘whim’, but determined by the residents of that affected area.

Questions:

How is this overall implementation directive being siderailed by an overall generic determination to install speed bumps on Carmen?

Where is the consideration for the rest of the community regarding the other alternatives?

What can you do regarding this lack of transparency?

Contact Craig Turner @ CDOT and the 47th Ward immediately to address your concerns about this unsystematic, unfair & limited implemention.

craig.turner1@cityofchicago.org malihe.samadi@cityofchicago.org josh@aldermanmartin.com info@aldermanmartin.com