THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
With Latest Traffic Changes Come Requests
By RICHARD MAYER
Journal Reporter
Mt. Prospect trustees approved the neighborhood traffic study for three more areas within the village, but with a few changes from original recommendations.
At the Apr. 15 board meeting, there were a few traffic-related issues raised by residents from the Lake Briarwood subdivision on the south end of town.
The Mt. Prospect Police Dept. met with representatives of a car dealership at the corner of Algonquin Road and Briarwood Drive. It was agreed that the dealership would stop test-driving vehicles in the neighborhood.
In addition, the owner of Briarwood Shopping Plaza has been notified to install a stop sign at the driveway that exits onto Briarwood. Village staff said they will follow-up to ensure the work is completed.
Additionally, the speed limit will remain at 20 mph instead of the recommended 25 mph. Residents who live in that complex asked trustees to maintain the current speed limit because there are no sidewalks in the subdivision and residents walk in the street.
Lastly, during the Apr. 15 meeting, a comment was made about missing a stop sign at the intersection near the entrance and exit to the subdivision. The signs in place are consistent with village code and information could not be found of a previous knockdown or removal, according to village officials.
Zones 11, 16, and 18 are the next three areas where stop, yield, and other traffic signs will be moved around for the safety of residents and less traffic congestion, according to village staff.
Zone 11 is bounded by Central Road to the north, Busse Road to the east, Golf Road to the south and village limits to the west.
Zone 16 is an area bounded by Golf Road to the north, Busse Road to the east, Algonquin Road and Dempster Street to the south and village limits to the west.
Zone 18 is bounded by Algonquin Road and Dempster Street to the north, Elmhurst Road to the east, Interstate 90 and Oakton Street to the south and village limits to the west.
The traffic study in both zones is focusing on two programs: residential speed limits and residential intersection control.
Of the 12 miles of streets in Zone 11, 2.8 miles have a posted 20 mph speed limit, 2.6 miles have a posted 25 mph speed limit and 6.6 miles have an unposted speed limit of 30 mph. Based on the traffic study, all streets will have a 25 mph speed limit.
The village's Engineering Dept. gathered traffic volume data throughout the neighborhood and took measurements at each of the 77 intersections in Zone 11.
Currently, there are four intersections with four-way stop signs that will increase to five. Also, there are 35 two-way or one-way stop signs, scheduled to increase to 67. Lastly, there are 36 existing intersections with no intersection traffic control. The staff will decrease that to five.
Of the 4.3 miles of streets in Zone 16, 0.4 miles have a posted 20 mph speed limit, 3.5 miles have a posted 25 mph speed limit and 0.4 miles have an un-posted speed limit of 30 mph. Based on the traffic study, it is recommended all streets will have a speed limit of 25 mph.
Currently, there are five intersections with four-way stop signs in Zone 16. The staff will decrease that number to two. In addition, there are two two-way or one-way stop signs, and that number will be increased to 20. Lastly, there are 13 existing intersections with no intersection traffic control. The staff will decrease that to zero.
Of the 2.8 miles of streets in Zone 18, 1.3 miles has a posted 20 mph speed limit, 0.2 miles have a posted 25 mph speed limit and 1.3 miles have an unposted speed limit of 30 mph. Based on the traffic study, all streets will have a speed limit of 25 mph except Linneman Road, Wall Street and LaSalle Street. Those streets will have a 30 mph speed limit.
Currently, there are no intersections with four-way stop signs, but that will change to one.
Also, there is one two-way or one-way stop sign in the area, and that number will increase to four. Lastly, there are three existing intersections with no intersection traffic control. Staff will decrease that to one.
Goals of this study are to:
* Gather vehicle speed data along collector streets and representative residential streets,
* Gather operational characteristics for each street.
* Evaluate each street based on the established criteria,
* Make a determination of the appropriate speed limit for each street within Zones 11, 16.
According to Project Engineer Matt Lawrie, the new signs are expected to be posted in June, right around the time school is let out for the year.
Then, the village will perform the first post study in December and then a second post-study in June 2009.