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A Motion to Concur with the Transportation Commission’s Recommendations for Traffic Calming at the Northwest Oak Park Traffic Study and Direct Staff to Prepare the Necessary Ordinances
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Introduction
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At its April 10, 2025 meeting, the Transportation Commission (TC) reviewed a traffic study focused on the northwest area of the Village. Following the review, the Commission voted to support staff recommendations for implementing a series of traffic calming measures. These measures align with Vision Zero strategies near schools and parks, Neighborhood Greenway treatments, and include the establishment of a Park Speed Zone along Berkshire Street. Additionally, two new stop signs will be installed for northbound traffic at the intersections of Belleforte Avenue and Forest Avenue with Greenfield Street. Implementation of the recommended traffic calming elements will occur through a variety of upcoming projects.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Motion.
Prior Board Action
There is no prior Board action associated with this item.
Background
The Village of Oak Park received a request to conduct a traffic study and implement traffic calming devices in the northwest area of the Village. Residents expressed concerns about speeding, excessive volumes, and cut-through traffic along Marion, Berkshire, Greenfield, and LeMoyne. They also described wrong-way traffic on the 1200 block of Forest, crashes including one involving a pedestrian, drivers disobeying stop signs, and driver confusion or pedestrian safety concerns at 2-way stop signs.
See Attachment A for a copy of the letter of explanation. Public testimony was received by the Village and is shown as Attachment B. See Attachment C for the aerial imagery of the area.
The study was reviewed by the Transportation Commission at its April 10th, 2025, meeting. Staff gave a presentation on the issues, including: background on the traffic study, history of the area, analysis of the collected traffic data, collision diagram, 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 April 10th, 2025, meeting, the Transportation Commission voted five to zero to install various traffic calming and safety elements throughout the study area:
- Diverters at Harlem/Le Moyne and Oak Park/Le Moyne
- Paint and post curb extensions at Marion/Le Moyne, Belleforte/Le Moyne, Marion/Greenfield, and Marion/Berkshire
- Concrete curb extensions at Belleforte/Greenfield, Forest/Greenfield, Belleforte/Berkshire, Forest/Berkshire, and Woodbine/Berkshire
- Speed cushions at various locations along Le Moyne, Greenfield, Berkshire, and Marion
- High-visibility crosswalk markings at various locations
- 20 mph speed limit signs on Le Moyne and Marion
- Park speed zone limit signs on Berkshire
- Stop signs on the south legs of Belleforte and Forest at Greenfield
- Radar speed feedback signs on Marion between Berkshire and Greenfield
- Other crosswalk and pedestrian signage improvements throughout the study area
The majority of the improvements being recommended with this recommendation are part of improvements already underway or planned for and represent the Village’s Vision Zero Plan recommendations for implementing traffic calming by policy. Recommendations for improvements on Belleforte and Forest Avenues were already developed by staff and incorporated into the previously awarded Resurfacing of Various Streets project and Water and Sewer Improvement project. Similarly, Neighborhood Greenway treatments on Lemoyne were also already developed by staff and approved as part of the current 2025 Bike Boulevard project.
Pending Village Board approval, the remaining recommended traffic calming elements will be installed as part of various future projects including: speed cushions and other bike boulevard signs and pavement markings on Lemoyne and Marion as part of the 2026 Bike Boulevard project; speed cushions on Greenfield and Berkshire and paint and post curb extensions on Berkshire and Woodbine as part of the 2026 Resurfacing of Various Streets project; and traffic diverters likely as part of the 2026 Resurfacing of Various Streets project Signage for the proposed stop signs and park zone speed limits would be done in 2025 by Public Works crews.
Pending Village Board approval of this Motion, staff will prepare the necessary Ordinances for establishing the Park Speed Zone on Berkshire and for the two new northbound stop signs.
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 May 7 to May 9, 2024, to analyze various blocks in the northwest section of the Village using radar counters. One component of this data is average daily traffic (ADT). The ADT was developed by averaging the counts over the three-day period. The ADT volumes along Le Moyne Pkwy (between Harlem Avenue and Woodbine Avenue) range between 1,275 to 1,475 vehicles per day. The Le Moyne Pkwy volumes are highest near Marion Street and Harlem Avenue and decrease east of these blocks. These volumes are slightly higher than on many local streets in Oak Park, likely because Le Moyne Pkwy provides continuous access across the northern section of the village from Harlem Avenue to Oak Park Avenue.
Speed data was another component of the mid-block data collection effort. Speed data was averaged over three days. The highest 85th percentile speed in the study area was 28 mph. This speed was observed along Le Moyne Pkwy between Belleforte Avenue and Forest Avenue, and along Greenfield Street between Belleforte Avenue and Forest Avenue. This is a high speed for these locations, considering they are along park zones and the speed limit is 20 mph when children are present. The highest 85th percentile speed on Berkshire Street was 27 mph. This speed was observed between Marion Street and Bellefonte Avenue. The 85th percentile speed along all other segments of Berkshire Street was at or below the 25 mph speed limit. The highest 85th percentile speed along Marion Street was 27 mph. This speed was observed north and south of Berkshire Street, between Division and Greenfield. The speed profiles along Marion Street are typical of other residential streets in Oak Park.
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 northwest section of the Village, six-hour counts were conducted on May 29th, 2024, using a Miovision Scout video camera system at fourteen intersections in the area. 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 71 degrees and a low of 53 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 show that the morning peak hour generally occurs between 7:15 A.M. to 8:15 A.M., and the evening traffic volume is highest between 4:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Overall, the total turning volumes during the study period were not excessive on the internal Oak Park residential streets.
See Attachment E for a summary of the results.
Crash History - Collision Diagram (Attachment F)
In order to evaluate safety trends in the northwest area of Oak Park, reported crash data was obtained from the IDOT Safety Portal and the Village of Oak Park from January 2020 through December 2024, a five-year period. This data shows that there were two injury crashes in the area during this five-year period.
Both injury crashes occurred when drivers lost control of the vehicles and hit fixed objects.
• The crash on March 11, 2023, at the 1000 block of Belleforte Avenue, when the vehicle traveling northbound towards Greenfield at a high speed lost control and struck a light pole and a tree in Lindberg Park.
• The crash on November 17, 2024, occurred on the 900 block of Belleforte Avenue, where the vehicle was speeding and lost control, striking a light pole, a tree, a parked vehicle, and the 934 Belleforte Avenue building. The driver fled the scene.
Two-angle crashes were reported at the intersection of Berkshire Street and Marion Street. Additionally, no bike or pedestrian crashes were reported. 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 upcoming capital projects, including the 2025 Resurfacing of Various Streets and Water and Sewer Improvements projects, the 2025 and 2026 Neighborhood Greenway Capital projects, and the 2026 Resurfacing of Various Streets project.
Budget Impact
The majority of the improvements being recommended with this project are already part of the improvements underway or planned for. Improvements on Lemoyne and Marion are already included in the approved plans and budget for the 2025 Bike Boulevard project and in the proposed FY2026 Budget for the Neighborhood Greenway treatments. Improvements on Belleforte and Forest are already included in the approved plans for the Water and Sewer Improvements and Resurfacing of Various Streets projects.
Improvements for speed cushions on Greenfield adjacent to Lindberg Park and for and speed cushions and paint and post curb extensions on Berkshire adjacent to Field Park and Mann Elementary School are estimated to cost approximately $45,000. These are treatments consistent with recommendations in the Vision Zero Plan for work adjacent to schools and parks and costs are included in the FY2026 Budget for this work in the Capital Improvement Fund, Public Works - Engineering, Traffic Calming Improvements account no. 3095.43780.101.570955.
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 study took around 250 hours, including obtaining and analyzing traffic data, preparing exhibits, and presenting at the commission meeting. Including the design of the traffic calming improvements into the street resurfacing project is a minimal effort and would take somewhere in the range of 40 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
The Village of Oak Park received resident concerns to implement traffic calming measures at the northwest area. The residents were notified of the April 10th TC meeting and public comments from residents were heard at the TC meeting. TC meeting minutes are attached for reference.
At the April 10th, 2025, Transportation Commission (TC) meeting, the TC recommended to:
- Diverters at Harlem/Le Moyne and Oak Park/Le Moyne
- Paint and post curb extensions at Marion/Le Moyne, Belleforte/Le Moyne, Marion/Greenfield, and Marion/Berkshire
- Concrete curb extensions at Belleforte/Greenfield, Forest/Greenfield, Belleforte/Berkshire, Forest/Berkshire, and Woodbine/Berkshire
- Speed cushions at various locations along Le Moyne, Greenfield, Berkshire, and Marion
- High-visibility crosswalk markings at various locations
- 20 mph speed limit signs on Le Moyne and Marion
- Park speed zone limit signs on Berkshire
- Stop signs on the south legs of Belleforte and Forest at Greenfield
- Radar speed feedback signs on Marion between Berkshire and Greenfield
- Other crosswalk and pedestrian signage improvements throughout the study area
Staff Recommendation
Staff concurs with the Transportation Commission’s recommendations for traffic calming at the Northwest Area. Staff recommends adopting the motion.
Advantages:
• Traffic calming improvements will be installed in alignment with the Neighborhood Greenway plan, the Vision Zero Plan, and per the Transportation Commission’s recommendation, which will slow traffic and improve safety in the northwest part of the Village.
Disadvantages:
• It will cost approximately $45,000 to install the recommended improvements that go beyond the existing Neighborhood Greenways and other already implemented traffic calming measures for traffic calming adjacent to Lindberg Park on Greenfield and adjacent to Field Park and Mann School on Berkshire.
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 the 2026 capital projects.
Alternative 2:
The Board can vote down the Motion
Advantages:
• Potential cost saving of $45,000.
Disadvantages:
• Misalignment with the Transportation Commission and Staff’s recommendation to address neighborhood greenway improvements and traffic calming near schools and parks.
• Potentially unsafe traffic conditions would persist.
• Resident concerns would not be addressed.
Anticipated Future Actions
Pending Village Board approval, staff will prepare the necessary ordinances for the two new stop signs and the park speed zone on Berkshire. Recommendations for various traffic calming will be incorporated into upcoming projects.
Prepared By: Jenna Holzberg, 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. Recommended Improvements
2. Attachments A-H NW Traffic Study