Safety Issues On Key Clarendon Hills Street

CLARENDON HILLS, IL – Some residents believe speeding is an issue on Chicago Avenue in Clarendon Hills.

According to a village memo this week, 31 crashes occurred on Chicago Avenue between 2018 and 2024. Nearly half were because of a failure to yield, but none were attributed to excessive speeding, the village said.

The speed limit is 25 mph, with a study finding that 15 percent of cars go faster than 37 mph, Village Manager Zach Creer said in the memo.

"The current speed limit of 25 mph appears to have been set when residents in the area complained about speeding and was not done as part of a comprehensive road design," Creer said.

The speed limit is 30 mph in Westmont and 25 mph in Hinsdale.

In the memo, Creer said the staff has no recommendation other than increasing enforcement.

Resident Thomas Casey has been pushing the village to make Chicago Avenue safer, especially for bicyclists and pedestrians. He lives at Chicago Avenue and Middaugh Road.

"There is excessive speeding at night between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. The light at (Middaugh) is green the entire time," he said at Tuesday's Village Board meeting.

He suggested flashing red lights at Chicago and Middaugh, saying that would slow traffic.

"You'll see a drop in the average speed," Casey said.

Trustee John Weicher agreed speeding was a problem.

"Speeding is pretty excessive, especially at night," he said.

Village President Eric Tech said the village could do a better job connecting Chicago Avenue to the neighborhoods.

"There are things we need to consider besides giving tickets," he said. "There isn't a safe way for pedestrians to get to the golf club (along Chicago Avenue)."

The board's meeting agenda included an item to spend $24,700 with Christopher Burke Engineering to study Chicago Avenue.

Instead, the board voted to send the issue to a committee first.