Chicago Names New Transit Infrastructure Chief
William Cheaks nominated to lead Chicago DOT, overseeing 4,000 miles of streets
Chicago Names New Transit Chief
Chicago's getting a new transportation leader who'll oversee thousands of miles of streets and hundreds of bridges. Mayor Brandon Johnson nominated William Cheaks, a veteran city bureaucrat with decades of infrastructure experience, as the new commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation. Cheaks will begin working as interim leader on Monday while awaiting City Council approval next month.
Filling Leadership Vacuum
The department's been without a permanent leader since early July when former Commissioner Tom Carney left. Cheaks becomes the highest-profile new hire among several appointments Johnson made this week, coming as the mayor has struggled to fill critical city leadership positions at agencies including the CTA and Chicago Public Schools. The nomination addresses a months-long gap in permanent leadership at an agency responsible for maintaining the city's vast transportation infrastructure network.
Massive Infrastructure Responsibility
If approved by the City Council next month, Cheaks will lead a department overseeing more than 4,000 miles of streets and over 300 bridges across Chicago. Cheaks plans to focus on spending equity across neighborhoods and improving public communication during infrastructure projects, according to officials. He's expressed support for Johnson's bike lane construction efforts and emphasized his goal to optimize city services and make the department more proactive in communicating with aldermen and residents. The veteran bureaucrat previously worked as deputy commissioner at CDOT for twelve years before moving to the Water Department and later to the private sector.
Timeline and Approval Process
Cheaks starts his interim role on Monday, with the City Council vote scheduled for next month. The appointment moves forward despite a 2024 lawsuit in which the city sued Cheaks for allegedly refusing to comply with a subpoena from the Office of Inspector General, though he later complied and the lawsuit was dismissed. Officials said the nomination reflects confidence in Cheaks' decades of experience managing complex infrastructure projects across multiple city departments.
What Riders Need to Know
The leadership change affects oversight of Chicago's entire street network, including bike lanes, traffic signals, and bridge maintenance that impacts daily commutes. Cheaks' focus on improved public communication during infrastructure projects could mean better advance notice for riders when street work affects bus routes or creates detours. Moovit provides real-time updates for Chicago transit routes and alerts about street closures affecting service.
