A bollard-protected bike lane on Washington Street downtown [Alex Nitkin/The Daily Line]

Chicago transportation officials are hailing the first stages of their five-year, $3.7 billion infrastructure plan as a boon to the city’s long-spun efforts to build out pathways for people who don’t drive.

“These investments prioritize making it easier to get around the city as sustainably and affordably as possible,” transportation department Comm. Gia Biagi said during Monday’s news conference kicking off the “Chicago Works” plan.