WFCW Traffic Study
In late 2024, the idea of proposing a WCFW area-wide Traffic Survey was proposed.
On February 2, 2025, an email was sent out from the WFCW Block Club stating:
WFCW Block Club's Traffic Calming & Safety Committee is presenting vital strategies to reduce non-local traffic in our neighborhood, making our streets safer and more livable for everyone. These proven solutions—such as narrowing crosswalks and converting some streets to one-way traffic—can enhance pedestrian safety, lower crime rates, and reduce noise, stress, and pollution.
What is this about? Why am I reading this?
After you read the information below, please contact CDOT and the 47th Ward immediately to address your concerns about this unsystematic implemention.
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, 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 is on this committee?
Initial Presentation
Having read through the initial presentation, multiple times, there is no reference to the sources of any data presented.
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?
It 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?
It 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 classification 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 presented, besides such a dramatic change to one of the streets within out community.
Questions:
Pedestrian bump outs, planters and narrowing intersections were voted on by the majority of respondents. Why aren’t these measures being implemented first?
It 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.
It states that ‘potential strategies will be devoloped with the 47th Ward. How/when were these potential strategies to be presented to the community?
It states that implemention will depend on Aldermanic support and City Council passage. Where did the City Council pass this type of change?
It states that the majority of respondents live on Winona, Carmen and Winnemac. Then why is Winona being the only street that is affected?
It 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?
In 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. Therefore, how/why was this decision made if there is no clear majority?
Presentations
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 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.
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 6th, 2025
I sent an email to the Block Club address asking for information regading this project. The Winona One-Way 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.
Does the Block Club have this or something - Did I miss a post or email?
Comment: No reply was ever received.
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.
Other Neighborhood Fiasco?
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 knows that this is happening nor do they have any information on how it was decided..?
Speed Bumps
Speed bump installation is determined by an overall implemtation by the neighboring residents surrounding that proposed speed hump. 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 being siderailed by an overall generic determination?
Alderman Martin’s Office
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. 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, 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:
How is it that the Alderman, who is responsible for this endeavor, has no documentation, plans, studies, surveys, etc to provide that show 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?
What about Argyle Avenue?
Who is running this show?
CDOT
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 this list, no response.
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 this list, no response.
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.
She stated to reach out to Josh Mark at Alderman Martin’s office to coordinate with him directly.
FOIA Request
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 on November 6th, 2025, 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.
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 municpality can apply for an extension. No application for extension was ever received, no denial was received and/or no respone stating ‘no documents exist to your request’.
November 13th, 2025 - Sent an inquiry to the FOIA office for the 5 BDs have expired- no response
November 14th, 2025 - Sent an inquiry to the CDOT FOIA office, along with the CDOT General email and Craig Turner, the Director of CDOT - No response
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
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
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 18th, 2025 - Received this communication from the FOIA office, which was/is 5 business days BEYOND the allowable limit:
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.
Questions:
Why did CDOT no respond within the 5 business days? How is this allowed to respond on 10 business days asking for an extension request?
How is anyone supposed obtain information regarding this decision, if no information will be provided until 1 day before the project is to begin?
Overall Concerns to Address
While this information was initially presented, last June, there has been virtually no mention of it, at all, until the one-off communication mentioned at a Block Club meeting stating that ‘Winona and the Speed Bumps on Carmen’ were happening?
How is converting one street in the area going to solve the overall issues presented in the survey, without consideration for the entire area?
Why is it that there has been virtually no communication on this topic since June until just a few weeks ago letting residents know what the possible options were or were going to be?
Since there was no majority consensus on what to do, how were these determinations made?
Why is it that no information on HOW these decisions were made (studies, plans, etc) can be provided to a requesting resident until TWO DAY prior to the implemtation?
How is it that converting Winona to one-way will solve any of the underlying problems addressed in the Presentation and Survey results. And I am curious, why is it just Winona
Converting Winona will ultimately push all of the traffic onto Carmen, making Carmen a virtual two-lane highway. Treating just one road of the 4 road area is limiting and just doesn’t make overall, and logical sense. Dealing with JUST Winona pushes their problem to another street, causing their problem to become someone elses?
Why is it that after utilizing the proper FOIA channels that no one can give out any information until two days prior to the Winona implementation?
How is it that the Alderman, who has final approval on this decision, cannot provide any materials supporting this desicions, how it was made, etc?
There is no factual study or information that states that speed bumps do anything to solve for traffic and speeding. All anyone does is just speed from one hump to the next one, and so on.