New Pedestrian Safety Upgrades Make Portage Park Streets 'Instantly Safer,' Residents Celebrate

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Portage Park · October 24, 2025

Portage Park residents are celebrating significant pedestrian safety improvements around Portage Park Elementary School, where a new raised crosswalk has created an immediate positive impact on traffic safety. The school, located at 5330 W. Berteau Ave., sits adjacent to Long Avenue, a residential street that had become a notorious cut-through route for drivers avoiding traffic on Central and Laramie avenues.

The Chicago Department of Transportation invested approximately $600,000 in safety enhancements that include the raised crosswalk at Long and Berteau avenues, curb extensions at seven surrounding intersections, and speed bumps on streets surrounding the school. The improvements address a critical safety need, as Long Avenue ranks in the city's top 10th percentile for neighborhood streets with severe or fatal traffic crashes. Data shows the street carries about 4,000 vehicles daily—significantly higher than the typical 1,000-2,500 vehicles seen on comparable Chicago neighborhood streets.

The project also includes new bike lanes, creating a more complete street design that accommodates all users. Residents interested in learning more about these improvements or suggesting additional safety enhancements can attend the next Portage Park Advisory Council meeting, held on the 4th Monday of odd-numbered months from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. The success of this project demonstrates how targeted infrastructure investments can make our neighborhood streets safer for everyone, especially children and families visiting our beautiful 38-acre park.

Sources:
1. https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/08/29/pedestrian-safety-upgrades-along-dangerous-portage-park-stretch-an-instant-success-locals-say/
2. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/portage-park