New Bike Network Plan to Transform Portage Park Streets, Community Meeting Announced

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Portage Park · February 17, 2026

New bike lanes and neighborhood greenways are being proposed for several side and arterial streets in Jefferson Park and Portage Park. The planned network will connect many existing bike routes and is designed to make bike travel safer for families while allowing better accessibility to local destinations throughout the neighborhood.

The Chicago Department of Transportation's proposal includes extensions of existing bike lanes along Central Avenue between Addison and Lawrence, Laramie between Addison and Sunnyside, and Montrose Avenue between Central and Nagle. CDOT's stated goal is to provide safe, family-friendly options for residents to reach neighborhood destinations most meaningful to their daily lives, including schools, parks, and local businesses through a connected network of bike routes. The plan features a combination of neighborhood greenways on quieter residential streets as well as striped or dashed bike lanes on busier corridors.

Residents interested in learning more about the proposed bike network are encouraged to share their feedback through CDOT's online survey and attend the upcoming community meeting scheduled for March 5, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Portage Park Senior Center. Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th) has indicated he plans to reserve judgment on the proposal until after hearing from community members at the scheduled meeting.

Sources:
1. https://nadignewspapers.com/new-bike-lanes-greenways-proposed-for-jefferson-park-portage-park-on-chicagos-nw-side/
2. https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/sites/complete-streets-chicago/home/featured-projects-and-innovations/projects0/PortageParkNeighborhoodBikeNetwork.html