City Looks At Ditching Pedestrian Crosswalk Signals Along Route 31

BATAVIA, IL - City officials are in discussions over rapid-flashing, yellow-light signals, which are activated by pedestrians at crosswalks along Route 31, are actually helping or hurting the community. The signals, which are in place across the four-lane Route 31 at McKee, Union and Morton streets, have been a matter of concern after accidents and many more near-misses have been reported at the intersections, according to the Kane County Chronicle.

Safety at the McKee Street crosswalk has proven to be the most dangerous with at least three minor crashes, according to the newspaper.

“The installation of flashing beacons at this crossing does not appear to have improved driver awareness or the overall safety of the crossing,” Public Works Director Gary Holm said. “There is a false sense of security that those lights are giving pedestrians.”

Some residents have urged the city to keep the beacons in place, stating the lights offer some sort of measure for pedestrian safety, while other believe Route 31 should undergo a "road diet" and reduce lanes along the thoroughfare, according to the Kane County Chronicle. IDOT has not been open to putting in red-flashing lights at the crosswalks.

More via the Kane County Chronicle

Photo caption: Flashing-yellow pedestrian-activated lights at Route 31 and McKee have been a cause of concern for city officials. Photo credit: GoogleMaps