Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gia Biagi is stepping down, becoming the latest departure from City Hall since Mayor Brandon Johnson took office.
Biagi announced her resignation Monday after nearly four years at the helm of the department, during which time advocates pressed for more and better-protected bike lanes throughout the city and voiced increasing concerns about pedestrian and cyclist safety. Her last day will be Aug. 11.
Biagi is at least the third department head to leave since Johnson won the runoff election in April. Housing Commissioner Marisa Novara recently announced her departure, and Department of Human Resources head Chris Owen also left City Hall recently. Johnson had asked former Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s appointees to stay on for a transitional period after he took office.
Biagi was appointed to lead the Chicago Department of Transportation by Lightfoot in December 2019, when she was tasked with overseeing more than 4,000 miles of streets; the city’s streetlights, bridges and intersections; more than 400 miles of bike lanes and trails; and the partnerships that operate the Divvy bike-share system and city’s e-scooters.
She led the agency as Lightfoot championed efforts to promote development and better walking and cycling conditions near transit, and made a controversial move to lower the minimum speeds that could lead to a ticket through the use of traffic cameras. But under her tenure the city also faced criticism from advocates for not doing enough to protect and promote ways of getting around the city like walking and cycling.
CDOT touted Biagi’s expansion of the city’s bike lanes and trails by more than 100 miles. During her term, City Council approved a pilot program that would use cameras to ticket vehicle owners who park in bike or bus lanes, crosswalks, bus stops and no-parking zones, and the Divvy bike-share program expanded to reach all of the city’s wards.
In 2022, Biagi announced a program to give away 5,000 bikes by 2026 that has been met with overwhelming demand. After delays, Biagi’s department also began construction on a new CTA Green Line station at Damen Avenue.
Before she became CDOT commissioner, Biagi worked on urban design, planning and strategy at architecture firm Studio Gang Architects. She had also worked for the city, including for Chicago Park District and the Department of Planning and Development.
Chicago Tribune reporter Gregory Pratt contributed.
