The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS), and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that the newly-implemented grid service strategy has proven to increase efficiency and productivity across forestry, graffiti and pothole repair services. Since implementing the grid service strategy to respond to 311 requests, the average daily number of forestry requests completed is up 63 percent, and the average daily number of graffiti requests completed is up 17 percent. The City’s backlog of pothole service requests has been eliminated completely, and CDOT continues to keep pace with new requests.

Under the grid system, DSS forestry and graffiti crews now “blitz” four wards per day addressing outstanding calls in targeted geographical areas. Each ward is blitzed approximately every 14 days. Additional graffiti and forestry crews are available for emergencies and other priority situations. To date in 2012, CDOT crews have filled more than 145,000 alley and street potholes. In 2011, CDOT crews filled more than 600,000 potholes, up from about 450,000 in 2010.