Route 31 Could Be Narrowed To 3 Lanes: City Wants Residents' Opinions

BATAVIA, IL — A portion of Route 31 might be converted from four lanes into three with shoulders, and Batavia officials want to know what residents think.

The city will host a public information meeting from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 23 at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., to discuss the proposed implementation from Fabyan Parkway to Mooseheart Road.

City of Batavia representatives will answer questions about the project and gather comments to share with IDOT. Residents will also have a chance to review preliminary engineering analysis with drawings, maps and aerial photos.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 6:15 p.m., which is when the project team will begin its presentation.

A road diet consists of converting a four-lane roadway — Route 31 is just that — to one with one lane in each direction plus a center turn lane as a way to provide more space for pedestrians and bicyclists, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The project must be approved by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which requested the city hold a meeting to gather feedback before their approval, according to a news release. IDOT projects the road diet will be completed by spring 2024.