'Deepest Concern' For Planned Elmhurst Bike Lane

ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst City Council on Monday approved an engineering contract for bike and pedestrian projects.

But one alderman said he had the "deepest concern" for one of the projects – a shared lane on Spring Road, from St. Charles Road to Vallette Street.

Much is going on in the area in question, Ward 5 Alderman James Nudera said. That includes traffic from York High School, event buses loading and unloading, a railroad crossing and parallel parking in the Spring Road business district, he said.

"A shared bike lane may be more challenging than we think for all involved – the cyclist, motorist and pedestrian," said Nudera, who represents the neighborhood. "Therefore, I have reservations toward the project."

He said he wanted more discussion about public safety for a bike lane in that area.

Ward 7 Alderman Mike Brennan, who heads the council's public works committee, said he appreciated and respected Nudera's concerns.

"Hopefully, during this phase of the project, we can look at those concerns and see if something can be done," Brennan said.

Despite his comments, Nudera said he would vote for the engineering contract. Two weeks ago, he was the lone dissenter in the first vote on whether to go ahead with engineering. He expressed similar reservations at the time.

The council's vote was unanimous Monday. Aldermen Bob Dunn and Jacob Hill were absent.

The engineering includes six projects:

• Addison Avenue, from Second to Third streets (buffered bike lanes)
• Third Street, from West to Caroline avenues (bike boulevard)
• Cottage Hill Avenue, from Prairie Path to Church Street (bike boulevard)
• Spring Road, from St. Charles Road to Vallette Street (marked shared lanes)
• Poplar Avenue and First Street (sidewalk, striping and corner changes)
• St. Charles Road and Cottage Hill Avenue (rectangular rapid flashing beacons, handicapped-accessible ramps and striping)

Later in Monday's meeting, the council approved forming the Walking and Biking Working Group to advise the city.

The group was formed on the recommendation of Mayor Scott Levin and aldermen Brennan, Dunn and Marti Deuter.