'Incredible' Speeds In This Elmhurst Neighborhood

ELMHURST, IL – Elmhurst resident Joe Voss, who has lived nearly three decades on the 100 block of East Madison Street, says speeding is becoming a bigger problem.

"You can't imagine what we see on Madison Street. It's incredible. I've seen trucks go 45 mph," Voss told a City Council committee Monday night.

Neighbor Ed Harrington agreed.

"There is a lot more traffic than there has ever been. The accidents are getting worse and worse," he said.

Other residents near Madison and Euclid Avenue gave similar accounts. They said once enforcement ends, the problem resumes.

An automated speed sign on Elmhurst's Madison Street is seen in this Google Maps photo last July. (Google Maps)

In summer 2021, Ward 6 aldermen Emily Bastedo and Michael Honquest asked the city to look at traffic in the area of Madison and Euclid.

The intersection is a two-way stop, with the signs on Euclid.

In their memo, the aldermen said they witnessed two close-call crashes while they stood with neighbors to discuss the need for action.

One of the city's first actions in response to the concern was adding yellow signs reading, "Cross traffic does not stop."

Last year, police said they assigned officers in the area to issue citations to traffic violators. The city also placed an automated sign telling drivers how fast they were going on Madison.

As a result of enforcement, a few drivers were cited, officials said.

"In general, the traffic speeds were typical for Elmhurst," City Engineer Kent Johnson told the Public Safety Committee.

In the last five years, the city has reported a dozen crashes at Madison and Euclid.

Many of the crashes occurred in 2021. That was during a construction project on York Street, which prompted many drivers to use Euclid as a backup, Johnson said.

Johnson said the police department gets traffic complaints all the time, so it's hard to focus on one neighborhood.

Police Chief Michael McLean said because Madison is a collector street – meaning it connects to major thoroughfares – it needs officers' attention.

"It's beneficial for people who regularly utilize the street to see the police there. It makes them think twice the next few days," the chief said. "That's why repeated attention is needed."

Over the last decade, he said, traffic patterns have changed because of the increased use of navigator apps.

Neighbors expressed concern Monday night about the dangers at the intersection of Madison Street and Euclid Avenue. (Google Maps)