LT SOUTH PEDESTRIAN WOES RAISE IRE

Much like a judge may call an evidentiary hearing at the scene of an incident or alleged crime so jurors can be afforded a firsthand opportunity to see things as they might have played out for themselves, an Edgewood Avenue resident is suggesting La Grange elected and appointed officials show up some weekday morning as students cross Gilbert Avenue to see just what's happening there.
In the eyes of Cheryl Ciecko, it is an accident waiting to happen, not much dissimilar to the hazards that faced pedestrians on 47th Street before a young mother was killed while innocently crossing the street nearly four months ago.

And now that school is underway -- and nighttime football kicks off for the Lyons Township High School Lions this weekend -- Ciecko said she believes the time is now for both La Grange and Western Springs to put their heads together to come up with a solution with what she calls the dangerous grade crossing three blocks south of 47th at the entrance to the LT South campus.

Although the school is located in Western Springs -- which for years has deployed a campus liaison officer to patrol the crossing -- she says the problem is half of La Grange's to solve because all of the teenagers crossing there each morning and afternoon are La Grange kids.

"It is an important day in our community," she told trustees last week, before highlighting the fact that the speed limit was just reduced to 30 from 35 mph the entire length of 47th in La Grange from Gilbert to East Avenue. "But the traffic on Willow Springs Road (also known as Gilbert) south of 47th in front of the South campus is a challenge, half for La Grange and half for Western Springs."

While there are no current talks going on between the neighboring municipalities, Ciecko thinks there should be, before someone gets hurt.

She suggested "it took decades" for LT officials to finally get a painted crosswalk at Mason Drive, which many students access to get to classes. On the way home, they cross Mason behind the water tower, down Linkletter and across Brainard Avenue and they're home free, she added.

But between 7:15 and 7:45 Monday through Friday, there not only are students on foot and in cars on the road, but delivery trucks serving the Garden Market shopping plaza, a daily shift change at nearby Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital and normal vehicular traffic comprised of commuters in a rush on their way to work. Plus, she said, there are young drivers dropping off younger siblings at South and turning around to head back to North in La Grange.

On top of that, people typically drive five miles or more over the speed limit in the area, which varies from 35 to 40 mph, which underscores the need for more signage and/or bollards to be placed at the crossing just like those along 47th east of La Grange Road so people slow down and possibly be more cautious.

Even worse, she added, is the problem caused on area sidewalks during snowstorms. Students cannot walk on the sidewalk in front of Shell at 47th and Gilbert and adjacent businesses because the village or private snow plows "routinely" plow the street and parking lots some 4 to 5 feet high on the sidewalks.

Many parents recall accidents that have occurred on LT South's front lawn, one involving an extrication and another which resulted in the death of a young girl.

"I don't want to wait," she said. "I want to bring this to your attention ... so we don't have to wait until there is a fatality."

Ciecko said she has met with Public Works Director Ryan Gillingham, who agreed it was an issue and something that hopefully can be resolved.

Village President Liz Asperger, who commonly meets with LT officials, said the village will be working with Western Springs on the resurfacing of Willow Springs Road in the near future and will address related issues then.

Police Chief Michael Holub, in an interview this week, said he was not aware of any safety issues at the South campus that are not routinely handled by the Western Springs liaison officer, but would be open to discussing how to solve any traffic woes.

Another resident, Stephen Fink, of the 600 block of South 10th Avenue, also implored the village to step up law enforcement in these safety zones, particularly at the 9th Avenue crossing with 47th, because motorists tend to ignore safety solutions.

"It's a situation where vehicular traffic does not adhere (to crossings and bollards)," said Fink, who that day had an Audi swerve around him crossing 47th rather than paying attention to the safety measures.

Asperger said the 9th crosswalk will soon be enhanced by the state. But she said it is impossible for police to be "at every crossing, on every road, at every hour," adding, "in addition to enforcement, we need to work with our neighbors (and) ourselves in following the law."

Trustee Mike Horvath, who favors increased safety measures in problematic areas, agreed the village needs to talk with its neighboring communities. He said the Police Department's July statistics show traffic stops are on the rise.

"There has been a lot more traffic stops, but I'm not sure where they're located," he said -- leading Fink to later suggest that a "hot spot" map be created to show residents where the biggest problems lie. Of the 642 stops that month, Holub reported 79 percent resulted in tickets, with 51 percent being moving violations. A majority of those, some 76 percent, were on arterial streets.

Bollards on Willow Springs Road "is a good idea," remarked Trustee Mark Kuchler, saying it gives "a better chance (motorists) will stop." He said the stats "is a showing (police are) definitely moving in a direction (of increased enforcement)."

Trustee James Palermo praised Ciecko and Fink for raising the issues, speculating Horvath's proposal earlier this summer to form a resident Safety Commission could mean "residents can be the eyes and ears for the staff and the board." The idea, however, is still under consideration.

:"We may not have all the answers here, we may not have all the questions," he said, "but that's (part) of the process and we'll end up with safer streets."

After the meeting, Fink said he believed the answers to his concerns were mere "lip service," adding he was being "cautiously optimistic" novel ideas such as signage in neighboring communities warning motorists of "reduced speed ahead" or "La Grange is a pedestrian-friendly community" or pedestrian-activated red light cameras at key crosswalks could ever be realized.

Horvath later added that bollards "without enforcement or education" at places such at LT South will only have marginal impact on safety.

Trustee Bill Holder also embraced several of the ideas to improve safety even more.

"When we slow down traffic, it's going (to) be easier for pedestrians to get across," he said.