Oak Park’s Transportation Commission and the village’s traffic calming petition consultant have recommended a set of traffic calming measures for a busy residential intersection.
The village’s transportation commission unanimously approved recommendations for new traffic calming measures for the intersection of South Grove Avenue and Pleasant Street at the body’s meeting Monday, Aug. 11. The commission voted to approve recommendations from Civiltech staff, the village’s consultant that responds to traffic calming petitions from residents, that would put new “paint and pole” curb bump outs on all four corners of the intersection as well as install new “cross traffic does not stop signage” on the block.
The intersection has stop signs on Grove Avenue but none on Pleasant Street, which meets its four-way stoplight intersection with Oak Park Avenue feet after the intersection with Grove. Both streets are narrow — no wider than 30 feet — and they both allow street parking.
Residents submitted the petition on Sept. 14, 2024, citing concerns over pedestrian and motorist interactions, including poor visibility for drivers. The intersection also needs intervention because it is adjacent to multiple churches, shops in the Hemingway District, is two blocks away from Gwendolyn Brooks Elementary School and is used as a school bus stop, according to neighbors.
“There seems to be very little downside and tremendous upside to traffic stopping momentarily on Pleasant Street,” residents said in their petition.
The residents had asked that the intersection be made a four-way stop, but the consultant said that the intersection functions safely as is, with few speeding drivers and rare accidents.
“The traffic data shows that this intersection is operating safely and efficiently and does not warrant additional stop controls,” the consultant said in its report. “Stop signs are present 350 feet to the west at South Kenilworth Avenue and a traffic signal is located 350 feet to the east at Oak Park Avenue. If stop signs were installed at Pleasant Street, drivers could become frustrated with the succession of stop signs/signals and stop compliance could decrease, compromising safety.”
The commission asked that repainting high visibility crosswalks on Grove Avenue be added to the recommendations.
The stretch will also receive neighborhood greenway signage treatment in 2026, as part of the recently approved Oak Park Bike Plan, and these new additions would likely be completed at the same time as the greenway treatments, according to village staff.
The recommendations will go before the Oak Park Village Board for final approval in the coming months.