A curb cut at the intersection of Forest Avenue and Augusta Street was missed during realignment, and residents on the street are concerned for the accessibility obstacle it poses.
Sandra Emerson first noticed the uncut curb in late August and took a picture on Sept. 3 and thought it would be fixed promptly. After waiting a couple of more weeks, she emailed the Village of Oak Park Public Works department to bring it to their attention.
“I’m not even complaining for myself. I’m complaining on behalf of parents with strollers, kids on bikes, people with disabilities,” said Emerson. “What genuinely shocked me was the pushback that I received.”
Emerson said that she did receive an email from President Vicki Scaman thanking her for bringing it to the village’s attention.
The curb ramp was missed during initial construction due to realignment, as the new ramp is being shifted to reduce the crossing distance to the ramp across the street, according to a response sent to Emerson from Marilyn Sudkamp, the village’s civil engineer.
At the time of the initial response, it was stated the pedestrian ramp was not specifically scheduled yet; however, Chris Welch, the assistant village engineer, has since said the work will be completed by Oct. 30.
According to the response shared by village government, the northwest curb ramp has now also been barricaded and closed since there is no receiving ramp. The statement explained: “The previous curb ramp on the southwest corner was not compliant under modern standards and has been removed.”
As the completion date is over a month away, Emerson felt the uncut curb and the curb barricades still present accessibility issues that could be dangerous. She witnessed another resident with a stroller walking around the curb, in the street, in order to get back on the sidewalk.
“I find it really interesting that one of the stated purposes of the Augusta Construction was to address safety issues and accessibility issues, and here you are with an obvious safety and accessibility issue, which has gone on for a month already. Now you’re telling me it’s going to be another six weeks,” said Emerson.
In two emails to village government, Emerson stated that her written correspondence served as a formal notice of a “known, dangerous condition on public property” pursuant to the Illinois Local Government and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act.
“Once the village is on notice of a dangerous condition, their governmental immunity from lawsuits stops if there is an issue that leads to someone getting hurt or killed, but it’s only if you give the village the proper notice of the condition, which I have,” said Emerson.
The village did not respond to comment on Emerson’s notice of dangerous conditions. There are other construction projects throughout the village that will impact curb ramps, but to the best of the village’s knowledge, there are no others that are outstanding as of Sept. 22.