Lead
NRDC to Chicago: The Clock Is Running
On March 6, NRDC policy analyst Chakena D. Sims published a pointed call to action: "The Federal Clock Is Ticking: Actions Chicago Must Take to Get the Lead Out." The piece lands at a consequential moment.
Here's the math problem. Chicago has approximately 412,000 lead service lines — more than any other city in the country, a legacy of its pre-1986 requirement to use lead pipes for residential connections. Since the replacement program launched in 2021, the city has swapped out roughly 8,000 of them. That's under 2%.
The EPA's Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), finalized in October 2024, requires most water systems to replace all lead pipes within 10 years — and puts Chicago on a trajectory of needing to replace ~20,000 lines per year starting in 2027. The city's current plan, built around the state's 50-year timeline, replaces about 8,300 per year. Chicago's own submitted plan acknowledges the federal requirement but notes it will comply only "if the regulations go into effect" — a hedge that ought to alarm anyone paying attention.
Meanwhile, the funding picture is deteriorating. The $15 billion national lead pipe replacement fund from the 2021 infrastructure law expires soon, and the Trump administration's proposed EPA budget would slash the low-interest loan program that states use to finance this work. Of roughly $325 million in federal loans available to Chicago, the city had drawn only around $70–90 million as of late 2025.
NRDC's asks are specific: publish a monthly or quarterly spending plan with neighborhood-level replacement targets; scale the program to meet federal timelines rather than state ones; and maximize available funding before it disappears. At 68% of Chicago children under 6 estimated to face daily lead exposure from drinking water, the stakes are not abstract.
Bikes
Portage Park Shows Up — Strongly
The results are in from the March 5 community meeting on the Portage Park Neighborhood Bike Network: over 200 people packed the Portage Park Senior Center, with the line stretching to the parking lot. Block Club Chicago reported strong overall support; Streetsblog Chicago documented a mix of enthusiastic advocates and skeptical neighbors.
The proposal — three striped bike lanes (Central, Laramie, and Montrose) plus five Neighborhood Greenways on quieter side streets — is relatively modest. No protected lanes, no parking removal. CDOT noted that a similar network in Belmont Cragin in 2021 produced a 20% drop in serious crashes and an 83% increase in cyclists. Cost estimates haven't been released yet; installation is targeted for late 2026 or early 2027.
The online survey remains open through March 15 at chicago.gov. If you live, bike, or work in the area, it takes about five minutes.
Bike Bus Leaders Wanted
Chicago Family Biking is hosting a Bike Bus Leader Training & Meetup this Thursday, March 12, at 6 PM at Butcher's Tap, 3553 N. Southport Ave. If you've ever thought about organizing a bike bus for kids in your neighborhood, this is the entry point.
Primary Countdown: Eight Days
The Illinois primary is March 17 — and House Bill 2454 remains a live question for any state legislative candidate. The bill, which would designate cyclists as "intended users" of all legal riding roads (closing the loophole that leaves ~90% of streets legally unprotected), is still in committee. As noted here last week, the Johnson administration has filed an opposition slip; Bike Grid Now has called that out publicly. With all Illinois House seats on the March 17 ballot, it's a useful question to put to candidates.
Reminders: Portage Park Bike Network survey closes March 15. Bike Bus Leader Training: March 12, 6 PM at Butcher's Tap. Illinois primary: March 17. City Council next meets March 18. ADU ordinance effective April 1 (23 days).