CDOT Comm. Tom Carney speaks during a ribbon-cutting for pedestrian and bike safety improvements to Central Park Avenue in Garfield Park in December 2023. [CDOT]

Mayor Brandon Johnson’s appointment of a new Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) commissioner last month was met with disappointment by some groups that had called for a transformative leader to tackle the myriad transportation challenges the city faces.

The mayor announced in late December that Tom Carney, who had been serving as acting commissioner since the departure of Gia Biagi in August, would move into the CDOT commissioner role permanently, though his appointment still needs to be approved by City Council.