SPRINGFIELD — As a Chicagoan, State Senator Natalie Toro frequently bikes to and from work, home and businesses in the community. From these two wheels, she has noticed a glaring need for transportation plans to prioritize the safety of cyclists and introduced legislation to better describe safety features of existing bike paths and ensure cyclists are prioritized in future transportation plans.  

“It can be jarring to follow a designated bike lane and then feel the rush of cars driving past you. Some lanes are shared with traffic or are not as separated as they appeared from routing services,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “My legislation will establish clear classes of bike lanes to avoid confusion for cyclists choosing routes they feel comfortable with.”

Senate Bill 3202 would allow cities and counties to create bicycle transportation plans. These plans may include estimating the number of cyclists coming through the area, allowing planners and developers to use a data-informed approach when determining the number of bike lanes needed and potential new routes. Additionally, Toro’s bill would create four different classifications of bikeways — exclusive, shared, semi-exclusive or completely separate from motorists and pedestrians. Local governments will be required to include maps of the existing bikeways and their classifications in the transportation plans, allowing cyclists to make informed decisions on the routes they take.

 I joined my colleagues and the governor to announce a $5 million investment coming to The Fields Studios in my district. I am so excited to see the impact this studio has on our community. It will create thousands of union jobs, showcase the talented filmmakers and actors of Chicago, and make an estimated $1.3 billion dollar impact in the next five years. I look forward to watching the great projects that will come out of Fields!

CHICAGO — State Senator Natalie Toro and other members of the Senate Democratic Caucus joined Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to celebrate communities across the state being honored as State-Designated Cultural Districts.

Senator Toro, who represents Humboldt Park, is thrilled her community is being recognized in this way.

“The Humboldt Park community has such a rich and vibrant culture,” said Toro (D-Chicago). “The State-Designated Cultural Districts Program and this official designation allows us to share and preserve our heritage and traditions while building a critical foundation for continued investment.”

“In Illinois, diversity is our strength, and the State-Designated Cultural Districts Program is shining a much-deserved light on some of our state’s most culturally and historically rich communities, including Puerto Rico Town,” said Majority Caucus Chair Omar Aquino (D-Chicago). “These designations will help Illinoisans celebrate our lineage and traditions of our communities.”