The La Grange Park Village Board has unanimously approved the village’s 31st Street Corridor Transportation Plan.
The plan is the culmination of a year and a half effort begun after receiving a $180,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Statewide Planning and Research Program.
The objective is to create a comprehensive transportation and streetscape plan for the area from La Grange Road to Maple Avenue as well as portions of Barnsdale Road.
“The plan recommends improvements in accessibility, connectivity and streetscape character,” Commercial Revitalization Committee Chairwoman Jamie Zaura told her colleagues in introducing the measure Sept. 22, “including signal timing adjustments, cross block enhancements, streetscape writing, landscaping and additional street trees.”
The village retained Kimely-Horn Associates to conduct a study of existing conditions and recommend a plan of action. The finalized plan was arrived at after two public open houses, a presentation to the La Grange Park Chamber of Commerce and an online public review process.
With the total cost of the multi-year project estimated to be $8.1 million, the board also unanimously approved a grant application to IDOT’s Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. The village is requesting a $5 million grant, the maximum any one project is allowed.
Kimely-Horn planner Daniel Grove stressed the importance of safety to the success of the plan.
“First, we want to make sure that we’re enhancing safety and comfort for all users on the corridor,” he said. “It’s a challenging corridor. Some of the right of way is narrower than some of your residential streets in some places … so that makes for some challenging environments in terms of what can you do with that space.”
According to the adopted plan, improvements to the intersection of La Grange Road and 31st Street, will include installing a bus shelter, ADA ramps and reviewing lighting. Improvements from La Grange Road west to Community drive will involve replacing roadway and pedestrian lighting and installing tactile warning plates and bike racks. It also includes enhanced crosswalks throughout the project.
For the area along 31st Street from Community Drive to Homestead Road, again the proposal is for decorative bollards/planters, installing street trees within the parkway on the north side of the street and making sure that all curb ramps meet ADA standards.
For the area from Homestead east to the railroad crossing, the plan proposes removing concrete walls and reconstructing the parkway planters as concrete, installing bike racks, installation of bollards and improving accessibility.
Proposals for Barnsdale road north to the Park District Recreation Center include removing the existing sidewalks and installing a landscaped parkway with trees and an eight-foot wide past east of the roadway, creating a crosswalk across Barnsdale at 30th Street, and installing roadway and pedestrian lighting.
Enhanced crosswalks are planned throughout the project area.
Because so many of the proposals involve making changes to 31st Street, which is owned by IDOT, and possible deals with the owners of private property over easement rights and possible eminent domain issues, most of the proposals are framed as suggestions for consideration, rather that definite changes, allowing the plan flexibility as it is implemented.
And the proposal to reduce the speed limit to 25 MPH on 31st Street will have to be approved by IDOT as well.
“The entire planning project cost was $225,000,”
Deputy village manager Maggie Jarr said the entire planning project cost $225,000, of which $180,000 came from grant money.
Village trustee Bob Lautner was enthusiastic about the plan, saying “I think it would be a huge improvement in that area.”
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The next La Grange Park Village Board meeting will be 7:30 p.m.. Tuesday, Oct. 13 in the Village Board room, 447 N. Catherine Ave.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.