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Berwyn First Ward Updates - Alderman Micah Caldwell, 6700 W 26th Street, Berwyn, IL (2026)

09/01/2026

I sent out my latest First Ward newsletter yesterday, and there’s a lot in it! Updates on the Berwyn State Bank redevelopment, the pool project, the BNSF railroad crossing study, 34th Street construction, bike and e-scooter rules, upcoming events, and more.

I’m also kicking off this year’s participatory budgeting process. If you live in the First Ward, this is your chance to suggest how I should spend a portion of my aldermanic funds on projects that directly benefit the neighborhood. Last year, residents helped choose things like pedestrian crossing signs, school zone safety signage, food pantry heaters, and support for local community organizations. This year, I want to hear your ideas. If you don't get my newsletter yet and want to participate, message me and I'll send you a link to the form.

Signing up for the newsletter is one of the easiest ways to stay in the loop and make sure you don’t miss opportunities like this to weigh in. And even if you don’t live in the First Ward, you can still read the full newsletter online.

If you want to check it out, click the link in the comments below.

09/01/2026

If you couldn’t make it to last week’s public meeting on the BNSF railroad crossing study, or if you just want to take another look at everything that was presented, all of the materials are now posted online (check out the link in the comments!)

The meeting was really the first time residents got to see the alternatives that have made it this far in the process. Some involve lowering roads under the tracks, some would partially raise the railroad while lowering roads, and one would take Harlem Avenue over the tracks. There were also some shorter-term ideas for improving traffic flow and giving drivers better info when crossings are blocked.

There are some clear potential benefits, especially when it comes to safety, emergency access, and reducing the long and unpredictable delays we all deal with. But there are also some big tradeoffs. Several of the concepts would change or eliminate street and alley connections and could make it harder to access parts of the Depot District by car, for example. But these are transformative projects we're talking about.

It’s also important to keep the timeline in perspective. Even if one of these major projects eventually moves forward, we’re realistically looking at something on the order of 10 years before construction would even begin. This is not something that’s going to happen tomorrow. But the decisions being made now will help shape what gets studied and refined going forward. That’s why now is the time to speak up.

The public comment period is open through September 25th. You don’t need to be an expert or have a favorite option. If there’s something you like, something you’re concerned about, or another idea you think deserves a closer look, say so. This is one of those projects where the details really matter, and the people working on it need to hear from the people who actually use these streets every day. So check it out!

08/25/2026

Folks, we could see big changes to Berwyn’s railroad crossings.

For the past several months, I’ve been part of a Community Advisory Group exploring the future of the BNSF railroad crossings through Berwyn and Riverside. Tomorrow, August 26th, the public will get its first real look at a handful of possibilities being considered. And most of them are HUGE plans.

The goal is to separate trains from street traffic in some way. We're talking underpasses. Overpasses. Raising the railroad AND lowering the roads. Every option comes with major tradeoffs, which is exactly why we need people to come see them, ask questions, and give feedback. I wish I had photos to show you, but you'll just have to go and see for yoursellf.

And this is not some pie-in-the-sky exercise. BNSF itself is at the table as a project partner. CMAP, Cook County, Berwyn, Riverside, and BNSF are working through a real planning process that could ultimately move a project into engineering. There are no guarantees, but if something is going to happen, this is how it starts.

We all know how much the at-grade railroad throws off daily life in Berwyn. It's a huge safety concern, it makes getting to work or school harder, it unexpectedly can add half an hour to any trip, and it really affects first responders and access to MacNeal Hospital. Now actual alternatives are being put on the table. So if you care about this, come see what’s being pitched.

Here's the details:
What: BNSF Railroad Crossing Improvement Public Meeting
When: Wednesday, August 26th from 4 - 7 PM
Where: The Berwyn Senior Center (3320 S. Grove Ave)

EDIT: To clear up any confusion, the public meeting is set up like an open house, so you can drop in at any point during the 3-hour period. It will not be a 3-hour meeting!

08/24/2026

Tomorrow's the night. City Council is set to decide the future of the Berwyn State Bank Building.

That's right, the Berwyn State Bank redevelopment agreement is up for final approval. The plan would restore the historic building with about 34 apartments and ground-floor commercial space, with the City providing up to $1.2 million in TIF assistance toward the roughly $8.25 million project. If approved, we could expect construction to take about two years to substantially finish.

At the Committee of the Whole (COW), the Police Department will also present a proposed e-bike ordinance. The ordinance itself wasn’t included in the packet, so I’ll be looking closely at how it compares with the broader bicycle and micromobility ordinance that I submitted a couple months ago that is still under review.

There are also updates on police and fire pension funding, next year's City-wide yard sale, the latest BDC report, Hispanic Heritage Month, and a whole lot more.

If you want to learn more, I went through the full agenda packet and put together my latest plain language agenda to break down what’s actually being discussed and voted on.

Link in the comments below!

08/10/2026

On the City Council agenda is $46 million in potential City borrowing, more than $2 million in street and sewer work, and an upcoming meeting about what happens next at Berwyn’s busiest railroad crossings.

I went through the full 219-page packet and put together another plain-language agenda so you don’t have to.

Of particular note, Berwyn is considering issuing up to $46 million in bonds. Up to $18 million would help replace aging water mains and sewers along Cermak Road, while the rest would refinance existing City debt. This is a major long-term financial decision, so I’ve been closely reviewing the repayment structure, projected savings, and potential impact on taxpayers.

We’ll also vote on roughly $2.14 million in street resurfacing, sidewalk, curb, and drainage improvements, plus additional sidewalk replacement work.

The City is taking the next step toward figuring out the future of our 60+ year-old municipal pool, seeking professional proposals to develop replacement options, estimate costs, and gather community input.

And later this month, residents can weigh in on possible changes to the BNSF railroad crossings, including at Harlem Ave, at a public meeting at the Senior Center. This meeting should really interest you because it's probably the most serious conversation we've seen about grade separation in decades, with BNSF coming to the table to take action.

There’s more in the agenda, so you can check out the whole thing in the comments below. Let me know your thoughts. And feel free to come if you want to see it live! It will be Tuesday, August 11th at 8pm at City Hall. Hope to see you there!

08/06/2026

For those not aware, the Harlem Avenue railroad crossing is now completely closed for the next ten days.

BNSF closed the crossing this morning for rehabilitation work, and it is expected to remain closed to both vehicles and pedestrians until Sunday, August 16th at 6am.

The posted detours are directing the bulk of traffic to First Avenue, using Roosevelt Road from the north and Ogden Avenue from the south. However, because this is one of the busiest crossings in the area, residents should expect heavier traffic on Harlem, longer travel times, and, unfortunately, more cars using nearby streets, including residential streets.

I'm in contact with the City’s Engineering Department about additional ways to reduce cut-through traffic and limit the impact on nearby blocks. I'll keep an eye on the area and pass along concerns as they come up.

The Harlem Metra station will also be inaccessible during the closure. Riders can use the Berwyn or Riverside stations without paying a higher fare because all three stations are in the same fare zone.

During the closure, please be patient, plan an alternate route when possible, and please be extra careful when walking or driving near the crossing, especially on those smaller residential streets. Thanks everyone!

07/30/2026

Do you live near 34th Street? You may be able to replace your lead water line for free!

As part of the City’s lead service line replacement program, property owners along 34th Street might be eligible to have their old lead or galvanized steel water lines replaced at no cost. This is a great opportunity, and I strongly encourage anyone who may be eligible to sign up. Replacing these older lines can be expensive, so it is worth taking a few minutes to check.

The program is not limited to 34th Street. Properties in several other parts of Berwyn also qualify. Take a look at the map to see whether your home or business is in one of this year’s priority areas (note that the map is cropped for social media and does not show the areas north of Cermak that are eligible).

To sign up, you can click the link in the comments below or call 630-955-1880.

Please share this with any neighbors who might be eligible. I'd hate for someone to miss out just because they didn't hear about it. Thanks y'all!

EDIT: A few folks have asked how these priority areas were selected, so I wanted to share that here. Most of the City’s current funding for lead service line replacement comes through the Illinois EPA’s State Revolving Fund loan program. The areas the City has applied for over the past three years were selected using a state scoring system that considers several factors, including the number of children under 6, the concentration of lead service lines, the age of the housing, and household income and other measures of economic need. Because the available funding is limited, the City has focused on areas that score well under that system. Along 34th Street, the City is also able to take a “dig once” approach by doing the service line replacements while major water main and street work is already underway. That helps reduce the cost and disruption associated with the work. Hope that clears things up a bit!

07/28/2026

City Council is tonight! I just got back into town after being away for a few days, so I’m getting this posted a little later than usual, but I’ve put together a new plain-language agenda to break down what we’ll be covering.

Among the items on the agenda, we’ll be discussing a request to turn the vacant building at 26th and Harvey into a church, whether Berwyn should join possible water-contamination litigation, and a potential new bond issue.

Those are only a few of the topics coming before Council tonight. I went through the full agenda packet and put together an easy-to-read guide explaining what each item is about, what Council is being asked to do, and how it may affect residents.

You can read the full plain-language agenda by clicking the link in the comments below.

07/20/2026

Where should five new pedestrian crossing signs go in the First Ward?

I sent out my latest newsletter a few days ago with a survey asking First Ward residents which intersections should be prioritized. I’m sharing the survey with newsletter subscribers so I can keep the responses focused on the people who live in the ward, but that is not the only way to weigh in. I’ll also be talking about the signs at my next ward meeting, and residents are always welcome to reach out to me directly with their thoughts.

That said, ANYONE can read the full newsletter at the link in the comments. It also includes updates on 34th Street construction, the proposed gas station at 35th and Harlem, pool planning, bike ordinance changes, and a whole lot more.

If you live in the First Ward, signing up for the newsletter is one of the easiest ways to stay informed and take part in future surveys like this one. Thanks y'all!

07/16/2026

FYI, Taste of Cermak is being postponed due to the hazardous air quality conditions today.

Berwyn First Ward Updates - Alderman Micah Caldwell

09/01/2026

09/01/2026

08/25/2026

08/24/2026

08/10/2026

08/06/2026

07/30/2026

07/28/2026

07/20/2026

07/16/2026

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