As Chicagoans continue to stay home in an effort to curb the transmission of COVID-19, the Chicago Loop is feeling the impact. Based on data from Chicago Loop Alliance’s pedestrian counters, footfall in the Loop declined by 81 percent on Tuesday, April 7, compared to Tuesday, April 9, 2019 (year over year).
“There’s no doubt that activity across the city is declining, but when you have a neighborhood like the Loop, with 370,000 workers and tens of millions of annual visitors but only 20,000 residents, a stay at home order hits hard,” said Chicago Loop Alliance president and CEO, Michael Edwards. “While we are certainly very concerned about the impacts COVID-19 is having on the Loop, we understand the most important thing right now is staying home and saving lives. We are eager to welcome our workers and visitors back to downtown Chicago, and the more we cooperate and come together as a city, the sooner that will be.”
Chicago Loop Alliance’s pedestrian counters, by the U.K.-based company Springboard, track pedestrian activity in certain parts of the Loop. Eighteen counters are located on the east and west sides of State Street from Wacker to Ida B. Wells drives. Additional counters are at Michigan and Wacker, Michigan and Washington and in the Pedway.
