The second and final phase of the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape Project is nearing the finish line! Contractors are currently working on finishing up the Ainslie Arts Plaza and modernizing the Western Avenue Traffic Signal.
As part of this process, there have been some traffic changes instituted that we wanted to make the community aware of! Starting next month, there will no left turns from Ainslie Street westbound lanes onto Western Avenue southbound lanes. There will be a dual right-hand turn lane from eastbound Ainslie onto southbound Western Avenue.
The Department of Transportation (CDOT) determined that Ainslie and Western was the the safest route for cyclists to cross, and the least impactful to transit and vehicular traffic (you can see more about the process for determining this route below!). An alternative route exists at the signalized left turn with dedicated turn lane just one block south at Lawrence and Western.
The northbound dedicated left-turn lane at Lincoln and Argyle, Lincoln and Winnemac, and Lincoln and Carmen intersections were also removed last year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the left-turn from westbound Ainslie onto southbound Western being removed?
The left-turn from westbound Ainslie onto southbound Western will be removed to mitigate traffic delays and improve safety at the intersection once the protected bike lane is installed on Lincoln.
When will the left-turn be prohibited?
The no left-turn rule will be implemented between late February and early March 2026.
Is the eastbound left-turn from Ainslie onto northbound Western being affected?
No, the eastbound left-turn will remain.
Will the left-turn movements on Lincoln Avenue between Ainslie and Foster be removed?
Left-turns will continue to be allowed, but vehicles will no longer have a dedicated left-turn lane.
Did CDOT conduct a traffic study before making this change?
Yes! CDOT did a traffic study to evaluate for how to options to connect the Lincoln Avenue bike lanes to the bike lanes east of Western. It was determined that having cyclists cross at Ainslie/Western was the safest and least impactful to transit and vehicular traffic. You can find a summary of the traffic analysis below:
- Utilizing low stress, calmer Ainslie and Leavitt Streets for bike connectivity is the safest option for cyclists (as opposed to using Lawrence Avenue).
- A dedicated bike signal phase to the intersection is required to provide a safe crossing for cyclists and allow them to traverse multiple vehicles conflicts across Western Avenue.
- A dedicated bike signal also allows for the installation of the bike lane adjacent to an exclusive right turn lane (eastbound from Ainslie onto southbound Western)––otherwise, the bike lane would need to be positioned adjacent to the left/through lane, in the middle of the street, and cyclists would have a conflict zone with the ~500 vehicles per hour making an eastbound right turn movement.
- To maintain the existing vehicular movements at the intersection, an additional separate traffic signal phase for the Ainslie WB-SB movement would be required. This additional phase would downgrade the intersection Level of Service from a C to an E, which would cause significant traffic delays and backups on Western Avenue at an already congested location––which would impact not only vehicles, but also the Lincoln and Western bus service.
- It was determined that by removing the Ainslie westbound-southbound movement, the Level of Service at the intersection can be maintained at a Level of Service C, according to traffic counts performed as part of the traffic study. Only 403 vehicles a day (49 on the peak evening hours) are making the westbound-southbound left turn movement, compared to 28,563 vehicles that cross this intersection daily. The WB-SB count represents approximately 1.5% of the total movements at the intersection.
- An alternative route exists at the signalized left turn with dedicated turn lane just one block south at Lawrence and Western.
What type of bike lanes are being installed?
Barrier curb protected bike lanes have been installed on Lincoln Ave between Berwyn and Western! We’re thrilled to make the neighborhood safer for cyclists, and to increase foot and bike traffic to the small businesses along Lincoln Avenue North.
Is on-street parking being removed and why?
On-street parking on Lincoln Ave is being reduced on one side of the street between Ainslie and Foster to allow for the installation of protected bike lanes. The street width cannot accommodate the minimum width required for protected bike lanes, traffic lanes, and parking on both sides. To facilitate additional parking for small businesses, parking meters have been installed in the following areas:
- W. Winona Street, north side of the street, between N. Lincoln Ave and the first alley West of Lincoln
- W. Winona Street, south side of the street, between the driveway and the first alley East of Lincoln
- W. Carmen Street, north side of the street, between N. Lincoln and the first alley West of Lincoln
- W. Carmen Street, south side of the street, between N. Lincoln and the first alley East of Lincoln
- W. Winnemac Street, north side of the street, between N. Lincoln and the first alley West of Lincoln
- W. Ainslie Street, north side of the street, between N. Lincoln and the first alley West of Lincoln
The parking meters will operate Monday through Saturday, 8am–10pm.
To learn more about this project, visit the Lincoln Avenue Streetscape project page!