Oak Park’s village board is considering a new bike lane on Ridgeland Avenue, but residents disagree whether it will be an improvement or a detriment.
Residents have said they feel unsafe walking, cycling and driving on certain streets in Oak Park, and the bike lane and other traffic items are intended to meet those transportation needs.
Several residents gave public comments at the board’s March 5 meeting, and their opinions were split. Some pointed out potential new problems that could arise, such as delivery drivers parking in the bike lane, loss of parking and kids’ safety while crossing.
“It’s a disaster in the making,” Mary Pikul said. “I do not think the positives of this project outweigh the unintended consequences.”
Others disagreed. One commenter said a protected bike lane on Ridgeland would be a “godsend.” Another, Jack Davidson, said he’s had “countless near misses” while biking and running and once was hit and had to have surgery.
“Traffic violence and deaths are not random ‘accidents,’” Davidson said. “But they’re tragedies that you are responsible to prevent.”
From 2018 to 2022, there were 132 traffic deaths and serious injuries in Oak Park, according to a presentation by Alex Hanson from Sam Schwartz Engineering.
Traffic deaths and serious injuries are 12 times more likely for people biking compared to those in cars and 15 times more likely for people walking, according to the presentation. More than 80% of Oak Parkers reported they’ve experienced or witnessed a traffic crash.
Additionally, people of color experience significantly more deaths as a result of traffic crashes in Oak Park.
Conducting a feasibility study for a new bike lane on Ridgeland comes with the price tag of $86,309. The fiscal year 2024 budget for the village has $50,000 allocated for the study, but the board would need to transfer an additional $36,309 from its fund balance for the work.
Village staff has some of the same concerns as residents, including loss of parking, lack of space for garbage collection, loss of school drop-off and pick-up areas and loss of areas for delivery vehicles. Losing parking lanes could result in cars blocking the bike lane or traffic lane, according to the village.
The majority of the board expressed interest in moving forward with the feasibility study, but several members wanted to consider other options for a bike lane as well.
“We really need to prioritize folks who are biking and walking and their safety over getting people to their destination 15 seconds, 30 seconds faster,” trustee Brian Straw said.
Trustees Susan Buchanan and Cory Wesley also said they want to prioritize people over vehicles, but trustee Ravi Parakkat pointed out that car congestion could be a problem for emergency vehicles.
“I feel really strongly that we should make commitment to making this happen,” Buchanan said. “It is a joy to ride those [protected bike lanes].”
Village staff is negotiating a contract with TranSystems Corporation for the study. If the study is approved, final recommendations would likely come before the board in fall 2024, said Bill McKenna, village engineer. The public will be able to give input on the bike plan at transportation and plan commission meetings about the work and through the Engage Oak Park website.
Hanson and McKenna also provided other updates on other traffic measures at the meeting. This included the ongoing Vision Zero plan, school traffic safety items, traffic enforcement, the neighborhood greenway system, traffic calming measures and pedestrian infrastructure.
Vision Zero is a commitment to stopping deaths and injuries from car crashes by implementing safe roadways. At the meeting, several commenters expressed their support for it.
The engineering division held meetings with school District 97 administrators who identified traffic safety concerns at the schools. Julian Middle School concerns are the first priority, according to the village.
Village staff and CivilTech Engineering already worked with the Illinois Department of Transportation to install a school speed zone on Washington Boulevard, near Julian Middle School. They are also requesting a school speed limit on Ridgeland Avenue near Filmore Street to improve safety by Irving Elementary School.
During the traffic enforcement update, Deputy Chief Roderick Robinson said police are looking at reimplementing a traffic unit, but the short staffing makes it difficult. Wesley, Parakkat and Straw all asked for traffic violations to be addressed at a higher rate.
The 2024 fiscal year budget also has $300,000 allocated for construction of neighborhood greenways, according to the village, which will focus on areas like East Avenue, Scoville Avenue, Fair Oaks Avenue and Elmwood Avenue.
The budget includes $350,000 to design the remaining greenway system, construction for which is expected in 2025 and 2026. Village staff plan to apply for $250,000 from the Cook County Invest in Cook grant to help fund 2025 construction.
There are nine traffic calming petitions that the transportation commission needs to review, according to the village, which staff expects to present to the board by late summer. Some measures implemented since January 2023 include bump outs, stop sign upgrades, special speed zones and speed humps.
Village staff are also meeting with the disability access commission and aging in communities commission for input on pedestrian signals, push buttons and Vision Zero plan to improve pedestrian accessibility.