La Grange Studies Traffic In Neighborhood, Based On Resident Concerns

LA GRANGE, IL – La Grange is conducting a traffic study for a section of town based on residents' concerns, officials said Monday.

The study area is bounded by 47th Street on the south, La Grange Road on the west, the railroad tracks on the north and East Avenue on the east.

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"This is a study we're conducting in order to better understand some of the traffic conditions that we've recently been made aware of," Village Manager Jack Knight told the Village Board.

Tim O'Brien, the village's public works director, said La Grange socked away money in its budget for the study. Over the years, he said, the village hopes to study all neighborhoods.

"We picked that area for the number of requests we've gotten recently – stop sign requests and other things," O'Brien said.

A preliminary report is expected by year's end, with recommendations on intersection improvements, he said.

The officials spoke about the study after resident John Pluto asked about wiring being installed, which he suspected was part of a traffic study.

"If you're doing selective testing, why doesn't my side of town get the same thing that this side of town gets?" Pluto said. "We have tons of people speeding down 49th and 50th Street, cutting through. And, I'm sorry, I don't see any police out there."

Pluto lives on East Avenue, south of the study area.

La Grange is not alone in doing such studies.

Over the last few years, Elmhurst has hired an engineer to examine traffic issues on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis.

Officials say this is better than approving each request for stop signs and other features independently without considering larger traffic patterns.