'Road Diet' Could Narrow Route 31 From 4 To 3 Lanes, Study Indicates

BATAVIA, IL — City officials are exploring ways to improve traffic flow and safety along Batavia Avenue, also known as Route 31. One option is to put a portion of the roadway on a "road diet."

City Council approved a contract with TransSystems Corporation, a construction engineering firm based out of Missouri, to perform a feasibility study of a Batavia Avenue road diet.

The approach, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, is one that narrows travel lanes or eliminates lanes to provide more space for pedestrians and bicyclists. Batavia officials said a typical road diet consists of converting a four-lane roadway to a three-lane road — one lane in each direction plus a lane in the center — and adding sidewalks or bicycle lanes.

City staff, along with TransSystems, met with staff at the Illinois Department of Transportation last year in October to discuss the project's scope and study expectations. IDOT's feedback determined the study will focus primarily on vehicular traffic from south of Fabyan Parkway to Mooseheart Road, officials said.

A draft of the feasibility study was presented to City Council at the April 12 Committee of the Whole meeting.

The study presented two choices: to implement a road diet along the entire corridor, or a road diet along the corridor but maintain lane configurations and capacity within the downtown area, on Batavia Avenue between Wilson and Main streets, according to city documents.

In the section of road being examined, the study identified 108 recorded crashes between 2016 and 2020, with turning and rear-end crashes being the predominant type of collision. All crashes, documents indicate, were intersection-related.

No crashes none during the study period resulted in fatalities, but there were six pedestrian-related incidents and two involving bicyclists. Half the pedestrian collisions happened at the intersection with McKee Street, while the other half occurred at Wilson Street. The two involving bicyclists happened at First Street, according to the study.

By implementing a road diet, the study indicated crashes can be "significantly reduced."

The study recommends a few things besides the road diet.

"Additional safety improvements are proposed to be developed during Phase I, based on the crash history and stakeholder feedback," the documents read. "Another location outside of the downtown area to further evaluate is Millview Drive, where seven of the eight reported crashes were either rear‐end or turning crashes, which are likely due to a lack of turn lanes and gaps in traffic. A turn signal warrant will be performed at this location as well during Phase I."

Overall, the study indicates implementing a road diet is a feasible improvement "that will act as a low-cost crash reduction measure while still maintaining relatively high intersection traffic operations."

As the project progresses, Batavia officials said updates will be provided through the city's website.