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A Motion to Concur with the Transportation Commission’s Recommendations for Traffic Calming on the 700 and 800 blocks of N. Lombard Avenue and 800 block of N. Taylor Avenue.
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Introduction
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At the November 11th Transportation Commission (TC) meeting, the TC reviewed a traffic calming petition for the 700 and 800 blocks of N. Lombard Ave. and 800 block of N. Taylor Ave. The TC voted to concur with the staff recommendations to install the recommended traffic calming items.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Motion.
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
On March 20, 2021, and September 20, 2021, the Village of Oak Park received petitions to implement traffic calming measures at the 700 Block of N Lombard Avenue, 800 Block of N Lombard Avenue, and 800 Block of N Taylor Avenue. Due to their proximity, the petitions for traffic calming devices were reviewed together by the Transportation Commission. The residents expressed concerns regarding speeding and excessive volumes along these blocks. Furthermore, non-compliance of stop control at N Taylor Avenue and Thomas Street was also noted to be a concern.
See Attachment A for a copy of the letter of explanation. See Attachment B for a copy of the written public testimony received by the Village for these petitions. See Attachment C for the aerial imagery of the area.
The petitions were reviewed by the Transportation Commission at its November 11th, 2024 meeting. Staff gave a presentation on the issues including: background on the petition, history of the area, analysis of the collected traffic data, collision diagrams, and recommendations. Residents provided public testimony on the items. After hearing the staff’s presentation and public testimony, the Transportation Commission deliberated on the items. Relevant pages from the Transportation Commission meeting minutes are included as Attachment H.
At the November 11th, 2024 meeting, the Transportation Commission voted five to zero to:
- Install three paint and post chicanes along the 700 block of N Lombard Avenue
(Attachment G)
- Install post curb extensions on all four corners of the N Taylor Avenue/Thomas
Street intersection extending onto both streets (Attachment G)
- Restripe the high visibility crosswalk markings at the intersection of N Taylor
Avenue/Thomas Street
- Install post curb extensions on all four corners of the N Lombard Avenue/Thomas
Street intersection extending onto Thomas Street only (Attachment G)
- Install post curb extensions on the northwest and northeast corner of Hayes
Avenue/Thomas Street intersection extending onto Hayes Avenue only
(Attachment G)
Pending Village Board approval, pavement markings, and posts will be installed as part of the upcoming 25-2 Resurfacing of Various Streets and 2025 Bike Boulevard improvement projects. The Thomas and Lombard intersection is scheduled to be resurfaced in 2025 as part of the resurfacing of Thomas so the proposed curb extensions at this intersection will be constructed with traditional concrete instead of the paint and post treatments. The 700 block of Lombard and Thomas from Lombard to Hayes are part of the Bike Boulevard project scheduled for construction in 2025 and improvements on these two blocks would be included in the design of this project.
Analysis Section
Traffic Study - Volume and Speed (Attachment D)
Twenty-four-hour two-way midblock traffic data was collected over a three-day period from April 30, 2024, to May 2, 2024, using radar counters to analyze various blocks in the northeast section of the Village. One component of this data is average daily traffic (ADT), which is the number of vehicles counted over a 24-hour period. The ADT was averaged over the three-day period. The ADT volumes on the Lombard Avenue blocks between Division Street and Augusta Street range between 1,250 to 1,850 vehicles per day. These volumes are higher than on many local streets in Oak Park, likely because Lombard Avenue provides continuous access across the northern section of the village.
The 800 N Taylor Avenue block (Thomas Street to Augusta Street) carries a volume between 300 and 350 vehicles per day, which is lower than those found on many of the village’s local streets.
Speed data was another component of the mid-block data collection effort. A review of the 700 block of N Lombard Avenue speed data shows a compliance rate of close to 65% with the 25-mph speed limit and more than 90% of the vehicles are traveling less than 5 mph over the speed limit. The 800 block of N Lombard Avenue speed data shows a compliance rate of close to 70% with the 25-mph speed limit and that around 95% of the vehicles are traveling less than 5 mph over the speed limit. The speed profiles on the 700 and 800 blocks of N Lombard Avenue are typical of other residential streets at Oak Park. The highest 85th percentile speeds were recorded at 3:00 AM (33 mph) on April 30th which was during the overnight hours and the lowest at 2:00 AM (21 mph) on May 1st along the 700 block of N Lombard Avenue. The highest 85th percentile speeds were recorded at 6:00 AM (32 mph) on May 2nd and the lowest at 2:00 AM (21 mph) on May 1st along the 800 block of N Lombard Avenue.
The 800 block of N Taylor Avenue operates at low speeds with more than 75% of the vehicles traveling below the 25-mph speed limit. The 85th percentile speed on the 800 block of N Taylor Avenue is 26 mph. This signifies that the majority of the vehicles are not exceeding the posted speed limit. The speed profile on the 800 block of N Taylor Avenue is typical for residential streets in Oak Park. The highest 85th percentile speeds were recorded at 6:00 AM (32 mph) on May 2nd and the lowest at 2:00 AM (21 mph) on May 1st along the 800 block of N Taylor Avenue.
See Attachment D for a summary of the results.
Traffic Study - Turning Movement Counts (Attachment E)
In order to quantify vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle volumes in the study area, six-hour counts were conducted on April 30th, 2024 using a Miovision Scout video camera system at the two intersections of N Taylor Avenue/Thomas Street and N Taylor Avenue/Division Street. The traffic data was collected on a weekday with typical traffic patterns and while school was in session. Conditions were sunny with a high of 68 degrees and a low of 57 degrees. This is considered ideal weather for pedestrian and bicycle activity. Counts were taken between 7 to 9 A.M. and 2 to 6 P.M. The traffic count data shows that the morning peak hour occurs between 7:30 A.M. to 8:30 A.M. and the evening traffic volume is highest between 4:15 P.M. to 5:15 P.M. Overall, volumes at these intersections are low. See Attachment E for a summary of the results.
Crash History - Collision Diagram (Attachment F)
In order to evaluate safety trends on the 700 and 800 blocks of N Lombard Avenue and the 800 block of N Taylor Avenue, reported crash data was obtained from the IDOT Safety Portal and the Village of Oak Park from July 2019 through June 2024, a five-year period. This data shows that there were two mid-block collisions along the 700 and 800 blocks of N Lombard Avenue during the five-year period.
There were no crashes along the 800 block of N Taylor Avenue and one angled crash at the intersection of N Taylor Avenue/Thomas Street. None of the reported crashes resulted in an injury in the study area and there are no trends at any of the study locations that point to any safety issues. See Attachment F for the collision diagram.
Timing Considerations
Pending Village Board approval, staff will include this work as part of the design of the upcoming 25-2 Resurfacing of Various Streets project and the upcoming 2025 Bike Boulevard project which are anticipated to be constructed in the summer of this year.
Budget Impact
Staff estimates that it will cost $22,600 to install the pavement markings, chicanes, and bump-outs using paint and post treatments. The proposed curb extensions at the Lombard intersection will be constructed with concrete curbs and gutters as part of the 25-2 Resurfacing of Various Streets project since this intersection is being resurfaced with this project. These curb extension will cost approximately $23,000 more than the costs for just replacing the curb and sidewalk ramps in the current configuration. Pending Village Board approval, staff will include this work as part of the upcoming 2025 resurfacing of various streets and bike boulevard projects. The Fiscal Year 2025 Budget includes $250,000 in the Capital Improvement Fund (CIP), Public Works - Engineering, Traffic Calming Improvements, account no. 3095-43780-101-570955 to fund these improvements.
Staffing Impact
This is a core service responsibility of the Engineering Division of the Public Works Department. Implementation of this item has minimal staffing impact. Preparing the materials for the Transportation Commission for this traffic calming petition took around 100 hours, including obtaining and analyzing traffic data, preparing exhibits, and making the presentation. Including the design of the traffic calming improvements into the street resurfacing project and future bike boulevard project is a minimal effort and would take somewhere in the range of 30 hours.
DEI Impact
The Vision Zero plan highlights that traffic accidents disproportionately affect minority communities within the Village. Traffic calming improvements will enhance safety for all users, with particular benefits for these vulnerable groups.
Community Input
On March 20, 2021, and September 20, 2021, the Village of Oak Park received petitions to implement traffic calming measures at the 700 Block of N Lombard Avenue, 800 Block of N Lombard Avenue, and 800 Block of N Taylor Avenue. Due to their proximity, the petitions for traffic calming devices were reviewed together by the Transportation Commission. The petition organizers were notified of the November 11th TC meeting regarding these petitions and public comments from residents were heard at the TC meeting. TC meeting minutes are attached for reference.
At the November 11th, 2024 Transportation Commission (TC) meeting, the TC recommended to install three paint and post chicanes along the 700 block of N Lombard Avenue, install post curb extensions on all four corners of the N Taylor Avenue/Thomas Street intersection extending onto both streets, restripe the high visibility crosswalk markings at the intersection of N Taylor Avenue/Thomas Street, install post curb extensions on all four corners of the N Lombard Avenue/Thomas Street intersection extending onto Thomas Street only, and install post curb extensions on the northwest and northeast corner of Hayes Avenue/Thomas Street intersection extending onto Hayes Avenue only.
Staff Recommendation
Staff concurs with the Transportation Commission’s recommendations for traffic calming on the 700 and 800 blocks of N. Lombard Avenue and 800 block of N. Taylor Avenue. Staff recommends adopting the motion.
Advantages:
• Traffic calming improvements will be installed per the Transportation Commission’s recommendation which will slow traffic on the 700 block of North Lombard with the proposed chicanes and the proposed curb extensions and pavement markings will improve pedestrian safety at the Lombard, Taylor, and Hayes intersections.
Disadvantages:
• The proposed chicanes on the 700 block of North Lombard will require removing approximately 6 on-street parking spaces along the street frontage of 5 houses.
• It will cost approximately $22,600 to install the recommended improvements using the paint and post treatments as part of the upcoming 25-2 Resurfacing of Various Streets and 2025 Bike Boulevard improvement projects. The proposed curb extensions at the Lombard intersection will be constructed with concrete curbs and gutters as part of the 25-2 Resurfacing of Various Streets since this intersection is being resurfaced with this project and will cost approximately $23,000 more than the costs for just replacing the curb and sidewalk ramps in the current configuration which would need to get done anyways.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
The Board can delay to gain additional information
Advantages:
• The Board can be presented with the requested information.
Disadvantages:
• Significant delays could impact the staff’s ability to incorporate the recommendations in 2025 projects.
Alternative 2:
The Board can vote down the Motion
Advantages:
• Potential cost saving of $32,750.
Disadvantages:
• Misalignment with Transportation Commission and Staff’s recommendation to address resident concerns.
• Potentially unsafe traffic conditions would persist.
• Resident concerns would not be addressed.
Anticipated Future Actions
Staff will continue to bring Transportation Commission Traffic Petition Recommendations to the Village Board in the future.
Prepared By: Ron Burke, Transportation Commission Chairperson; Bill McKenna, Village Engineer/Assistant Public Works Director
Reviewed By: Rob Sproule, Public Works Director
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Letter of Explanation - Attachment A
2. Public Testimony - Attachment B
3. Aerial Images - Attachment C
4. Speed and Volume Traffic Data - Attachment D
5. Turning Movement Counts - Attachment E
6. Crash History - Attachment F
7. Recommended Improvements - G
8. Meeting Minutes - Attachment H