Maria High School Students Make A Difference:
Creating Accessible and Efficient Transit
SPECIAL REPORT
ADDENDUM TO THE
The South Side of Chicago
Connecting Communities Summit
Vocal young community leaders at Maria High School
(MHS)
*
gathered on April 17
th
, 2002 to discuss how
transportation can better serve their communities and
promote a better quality of life. The 22 senior females,
one senior male guest and two teachers were ready with
many suggestions for transportation improvements to
enhance their communities. While participants attended
school in the Chicago Lawn community, most called
other parts of the city home. This enabled Maria
students to envision transportation scenarios that
encompass large stretches of the city of Chicago.
The Maria High School community believes a diverse
student body of 750 young women is, as their motto
claims, "the right size, the right mix and the right
choice." At the mini-summit, ten African-American
individuals and nine Hispanic youth, along with two
Native American, two Caucasian, one Asian and one bi-
racial community member joined to create input for the
new Citizen Transportation Plan.
Transportation advocacy is nothing new to MHS. In
October of 1997 bus service on West 67
th
Street was
disrupted. The change forced students to find alternative
routes to school. It required those working and seeking
care at Holy Cross Hospital to adopt different routes as
well. Transportation needs were not being met for the
Maria community. Swift access to health care and
education are not available for those who depend on
public transit. Students, administrators, and community
members petitioned, attended planning meetings and even
made a video to bolster support for service adjustments
and to reinstate bus service on West 67
th
Street. Despite
their best efforts, no improvements have been made so
far.
At the mini-summit, students placed a high level of
importance on job accessibility, indicating it was their
primary concern in regard to transportation planning.
Safety for transit users, pedestrians and drivers was
also a major concern. The ability to use various modes
of transportation is important, as is the option for
children to travel independently. In their discussion,
summit participants designated these issues as top
priorities for creating transportation systems that foster
community development and renewal.
Participants most often indicated on the survey that
they get around by using a car with others. All
attendees noted having at least one car per household.
There are an equal number of cars to people in five of
the 26 households surveyed. The next most used mode
is transit. Meeting participants indicated using transit an
average of 18 times per month. Riders logged a total of
444 transit trips in one month. Solo occupancy car use
was the third most used mode, with walking coming in
next and biking last. Fifteen mini-summit attendees
walk to do their errands about two times per week.
Top destinations include the Ford City Mall at west 76
th
Street and Cicero Avenue, Evergreen Mall at west 95
th
Street and Western Avenue, Lincoln Mall in Matteson,
Midway and O'Hare airports, and Maria High School
from home.
All participants indicated that they have access to transit
service within one mile of their homes. Over half
experience service more than twice an hour with seven
respondents being served about once an hour and 8%
with service less than once an hour. Ten households
(40%) have children under the age of fourteen. Of
these families, six (60%) see automobiles as their
preferred mode for getting young children to school.
The second most popular travel method is walking and
young children least use bus service for school transit.
The ability to travel independently and safely is
important to all transit users, but especially high school
aged people. Participants are concerned with safety
*
Maria High School is an all-girl Catholic secondary school located at 6727 South California Avenue. The school opened its doors in 1952
and since then has provided a foundation for its students, preparing them for college and beyond. The Holy Cross Hospital at 2701 West
68
th
Street is also part of their community. Sr. Margaret Zalot and Ms. Erin Lorenz were the gracious hosts of the mini-summit.
