A village board workshop to discuss several possible actions to improve pedestrian and traffic safety along the 47th St corridor has been scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 25, La Grange President Elizabeth Asperger said Monday night.
The actions to be discussed include reconfiguring 47th St from a four-lane thoroughfare to three lanes, an idea explored in a feasibility study prepared by KLOA Inc., a traffic and transport planning and enginnering firm based in Rosemont.
The board also will evaluate the current operation of a pedestrian-activated signal crossing near the intersection of 47th St and 9th Ave, and discuss whether or not to install a similar crossing at Waiola Ave and 47th St, Asperger said.
Signalizing the intersection of East Ave and 47th St also will be explored, she said.
KLOA was hired by the village in May 2010 to study the feasibility of converting 47th St to three lanes.
Also at that time, the firm was asked to conduct an "origin and destination" study in which vehicle license plate information was captured at major intersections along 47th St, and then matched with plate information obtained from vehicles at La Grange Memorial Hospital, the Lyons Township High School main and south campuses, and the two Metra commuter train stations in the village.
The results of that study also will be discusssed by the village board at the Jan. 25 workshop.
The workshop will follow a normal business meeting of the board, which has been moved from its originally scheduled date of Jan. 24. The change was made to accommodate the availability of KLOA's representatives, Asperger said.
The village's efforts to improve pedestrian safety along 47th St were accelerated by a public outcry following an accident on May 19, 2009, in which a young Countryside mother, Cari Lyn Cook, was struck and killed by an SUV while crossing the road at 8th Ave with her two small children.
This is another poor idea for La Grange, on par with the State Law Stop For Pedestrian signs littering the roads and creating obstructions in the roadway.
47th street is a major thoroughfare. It is not a residential street. By narrowing it to one lane each way plus a turn lane you are effectively creating choke points into the village at both ends and needlessly restricting traffic flow.
Why don't we just close off La Grange Road while we are at it too and make it a pedestrian mall. I'm sure that would help business and aid movement in town.
People need to look both ways before they cross the street just as they were taught as children. You don't walk out into the street expecting a car to stop for you - laws on the books or not. This is a much more effective solution than wasting untold amounts of money for engineering studies, repaving, and frustration.
How many deaths have there been on 47th street due to car/pedestrian collisions? While one is too many it is not a call to take extreme action. Even if this plan proceeds there will undoubtedly be another accident at some point. What do we do then? Ban cars like Mackinaw Island?
Posted by: Illinimatt81 | February 04, 2011 at 08:09 PM
To add, adding a crosswalk for Waiola Park is a good idea. Signalizing 47th and East Ave is LONG OVERDUE! These ideas are worth pursuing and will enhance safety.
Posted by: Illinimatt81 | February 04, 2011 at 08:16 PM
Be it gifts or replica tag heuer it provides the essence of style and quality that can't be justified by words.Let's just have a look into some of the replica blancpain that may interest you.A revolutionary online retail store with a difference, yes I am talking about the Replica watches Sale.Most of the replica omega present here are actual collectible jewellery items.Possessing a michael kors is a matter of pride and a matter of envy for the onlookers.replica daytona offers you a wide variety of charms.These are only a few, there is whole host of replica hublot that are available and can easily ship them for you at very nominal rates, as per order.
Posted by: replica daytona | July 14, 2012 at 01:43 AM