Temporary Speed Bumps on Church St.? No Way, Neighbors Say

Have you been driving four or five miles over the speed limit on Church Street?

Chances are probably good that you have, according to two separate traffic studies conducted by the village. Those studies show on average, cars travel 24 or 24.5 miles per hour on Church Street—despite the fact that the posted speed limit is 20 miles per hour. That speed limit itself was reduced from 25 miles per hour a year ago after residents complained. 

Village staff is now considering installing two sets of speed tables, which are rubberized temporary speed bumps designed to slow vehicles.

A vocal segment of Northbrook’s population is unhappy with the idea, however—and Northbrook’s Public Works Commission voted not to recommend speed tables after hearing from residents at a meeting Tuesday.

“You’re going to turn Church Street into a parking lot,” said Tim DeGroot, who lives near Church.

“Cars are going to stop and then go. You’re going to have fumes created by this, it’s going to up pollution in that area, and I don’t think it’s good for the people living there.”

According to village engineer Paul Kendzior, Church Street sees about 2,500 vehicles per day between Shermer and Walters roads, about two times the volume of a typical residential street in the area. At 20 feet wide, it’s also about five feet narrower than most residential streets

It’s a common route for residents of nearby streets to access downtown or other major roads in the village. DeGroot said he uses Church Street to get to the viaduct under the Metra tracks in order to avoid getting stuck behind trains while he commutes to his job in Wheeling.

“We all know how many trains go through Northbrook, and any advantage to get past those tracks is an advantage to me,” he said.

Along with other residents at the meeting, DeGroot also suggested that slowing cars on Church Street even more might create more traffic on Meadow Road—right by the and , where many children cross the street.

Another resident of the neighborhood near Church Street said that he had spent the extra money to buy a home that wasn’t on a busy street, and that he shouldn’t be penalized in the speed and ease of his commute by people who had chosen to live on a busier street like Church.

“When you move near an airport, don’t complain about the noise,” said John, who preferred not to give his last name. “When you move onto a busy street, don’t complain about it.”

People living on Church Street, however, say they have witnessed a significant increase in traffic volume and speed in the past several years—an increase that warrants further speed reduction efforts like speed tables.

“We moved there because there were a lot of kids,” said Scott Robson, who lives on Church Street. “It’s a great street to bring your kids up on. It’s close to the schools, it’s close to the village.”

“When we moved there the speeds were a lot lower than they are right now,” he continued. “What we’re worried about is safety. We don’t want to see a kid get killed.”

There have been five accidents on Church Street since 2007, according to Kendzior. Vehicles hitting parked cars caused four. The other happened when a driver struck a bicyclist in the roadway. No one was injured, Kendzior said.

But Church Street residents say it’s only a matter of time before something happens.

“It’s a danger, Robson said. “I’ve seen close accidents." 

Public Works Commission member and village Trustee A.C. Buehler agreed with the Church Street residents. He said that due to its width, curb height, and the number of trees, the street was significantly different from others in the village and therefore required special treatment.

The other members of the Public Works Commission, however, disagreed.

“I don’t see the problem,” said Trustee Michael Scolaro. “I see an average speed of 25 miles per hour, which is in accordance with what the previous speed was when there were complaints. I see a history of very few accidents; I see police patrol resulted in one ticket.

“Having lived and exited my previous abode onto Walters Avenue, and taking Church Street to get to downtown, I often used this route. I think [speed tables] would be a huge inconvenience.”

Scolaro also said that adding the addition of speed tables might also create more traffic on Meadow Road, just as at the old Northbrook Garage site.

Trustee Todd Heller said he, too, wasn’t sold on speed tables.

“All streets have inherent dangers,” he said. “I just don’t see Church Street as that unique.”