Lincoln Square residents have seen a familiar sight each weekday morning: Alderman Andre Vasquez, 40th Ward, standing in a bright yellow vest at the corner of Western Avenue and Argyle Street, waving cars through the rush hour. The self‑appointed traffic director began his daily rounds after a recent collision on Argyle left a garage badly damaged and highlighted the dangers of the bottleneck.
Why the alderman stepped in
Vasquez says the problem began when water‑maintenance work on Ainslie and Oakley forced drivers onto Argyle, a one‑way street that feeds directly onto Western. He warned the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Department of Water Management, the Chicago Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, but each agency cited staffing limits. “Police could send an officer, but they’d have to leave if an emergency called,” Vasquez explained.
Frustrated by the lack of a city‑provided flagger, Vasquez donned his own vest and began directing traffic during the critical school‑dropoff window, typically around 7:30 a.m. He remains on site for about an hour each morning, keeping the flow steady while parents pick up their children at nearby St. Mathias School.
Community response
Parents appreciate the effort but worry about safety. “I appreciate what he’s doing,” said Philip Rodrigues, a St. Mathias parent. “I don’t think it’s the safest thing. You have two lanes of traffic coming, speeding down Western constantly. That’s a little dangerous for yourself.”
Other residents echo the call for a permanent solution. Tricia Schweska, a 40th Ward resident, said a permanent crossing guard would be “amazing” and noted that Vasquez’s presence has already helped reduce congestion.
City agencies react
CDOT has sent staff to observe conditions and, in early September, provided an estimate for a “paint and post” improvement north of Argyle on Western to give left‑turning drivers better visibility. “Traffic appears to be moving normally and congestion issues appear to have been resolved,” CDOT spokesperson Erica Schroeder wrote in an email, adding that the agency will continue to monitor the area as other construction projects proceed.
The mayor’s office, Chicago Police Department and Office of Emergency Management and Communications did not respond to inquiries.
Long‑term fixes and next steps
CDOT has already installed bump‑outs on Argyle and Western and added concrete medians on Western to limit traffic to a single lane. While these changes have slowed speeding, they have also forced cars to queue on Argyle, creating new bottlenecks. Local resident Mahdi Hemingway, whose garage was destroyed in the earlier crash, said the median improves safety but makes left turns difficult.
Vasquez believes a formal traffic study is needed to determine the best long‑term configuration. In the meantime, he urges the city to assign a dedicated traffic unit—similar to bike cops or mounted officers—to the intersection. “I literally just need two people with a sign and a vest,” he said.
Looking ahead
Maintenance work is slated to increase again in October, meaning the traffic challenges are likely to persist. Until a permanent solution is funded and installed, Vasquez plans to keep his stop sign in hand and continue directing traffic each morning, reinforcing his commitment to keeping Lincoln Square families safe.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
