Blue Island residents concerned and upset after two pedestrians were killed this year and two high school students injured crossing 127th Street shared their grief and pleaded for action this week at a city council meeting.
Both people were killed by automobiles and in both instances police found the drivers to be sober, said Tom Wogan, Blue Island city administrator.
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A high school student was killed in April a few blocks from Eisenhower High School, and the most recent fatality was a 46-year-old man in late September.
The street is particularly treacherous because it’s near the high school and students often cross the street. A 14-year-old girl, was struck and injured this month. Alderman Nancy Rita said she is out of the hospital but still recovering.
Rita said another student was hit this year crossing 127th near the auto dealership, and broke his femur, pelvin, knee and ankle, had internal bleeding and is now in a wheelchair and has been unable to return to school.
“The way the intersection is set up makes it very difficult for cars to see students and for students to see cars,” Rita said.
Rita wasn’t alone. Parents, and even one administrator, assistant principal Marie Cerwin, spoke out in favor of making the street safer.
“We are here today because we want a change,” Cerwin said. “We want it done quickly.”
She said she wanted flashing beacons and anything else to alert motorists about pedestrians.
Several parents were in tears as they pleaded for the city council to do something and one high school student said she didn’t feel safe walking along the street, which doesn’t have sidewalks in some areas, and deteriorating walkways in others.
While some measures may be taken locally, Wogan said there’s not a lot the city can do as the state owns and maintains the street, even as he acknowledged it is not safe.
“There is no island or oasis,” Wogan said. “There’s four lanes of fast-moving traffic.”
Residents and parents pleaded at Tuesday’s City Council meeting for something to be done. Officials said they have reached out to the state highway department and area legislators after the most recent incidents, but urged residents to advocate for change at the state level.
“We’re doing what we can locally, but we don’t own that street,” Wogan said. “The Illinois Department of Transportation owns that street.”
To date this year, IDOT has replaced several signs on the street including stop signs and speed limit signs. Spokesperson Maria Casteneda said the department remains open to working with Blue Island officials.
“IDOT is always working with local law enforcement and officials to identify safety concerns and possible solutions,” she said in an email.
Wogan said the city has changed traffic patterns around the Eisenhower High School, making four village streets around the building — Sacramento, Edison, Walnut and Burr Road — one way at student arrival and departure times.
Still, Wogan is hopeful the state will work with the village to develop more safety infrastructure.
“The mayor sent a letter to IDOT spelling out the three incidents that happened,” Wogan said. “There’s a lot of conversation now on should there be a concrete oasis there, should there be physical barriers preventing pedestrians from crossing the street, should there be a speed camera.”
He said the city needs the state’s help to find permanent solutions.
“We’re doing everything we can in our immediate powers and were already in conversation with the state to long-term infrastructure solutions,” he said.
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Jesse Wright is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.