Village Votes To Add 4-Way Stop At Park And Summit Intersection

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — A measure to change the stop control at Summit Street and Park Avenue passed by a vote of 6 to 1 at the Downers Grove Village Council Meeting Tuesday. Commissioner Chris Gilmartin was the only council member to vote against the measure.

During the village council comments, Commissioner Martin Tully said the fact that Randall Park is near Randall Park factored into his decision to vote in favor of the ordinance amendment. Tully said, "I have looked at a lot of additional information. I'm convinced that the proximity of this intersection to Randall Park is a distinguishing factor an therefore I can support this."

Commissioner Michael Davenport echoed these sentiments, saying,

"These types of cross-traffic intersections can be more dangerous for pedestrians, particularly children, the metric aligns with the lllinois Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices(IMUTCD) warrants, which include proximity to a park or school as a consideration in the evaluation process."

"After a review of our village map, the petitioners' research and personal experience, I believe all other similar intersections already have four-way stop control, except one other, which is 59th and Carpenter at the north side of Ebersold Park," Davenport said.

He added, "I think the four-way intersection directly adjoining a park metric gives us a sensible pedestrian safety measure we can consistently apply."

Davenport then suggesting having more in-depth conversations with the Downers Grove Transportation and Parking Commission, which, at its Oct. 25 meeting, had determined they would not recommend the traffic change to the village council "based on the intersection not meeting any of the stop sign warrants and staff does not find that there are an inordinate number of vehicles traveling in excess of the posted speed limit or that there are excessive traffic volumes."

Davenport said he would like to see more closer reviews with this and other advisory boards regarding recommendations for or against ordinances, especially when a recommendation doesn't align with that of village staff.

Commissioner Gilmartin, the only council member to oppose the four-way stop said, "The idea that we are approving a stop sign that technically doesn't meet any of the warrants for a four-way stop feels like we're setting a precedent.:

Gilmartin added, The proximity to the parks is a noble exercise. It's not part of our ordinances; it's not part of the way we operate. So if we want to operate that way, we should put that in place. But to sort of plug this back into that and look at intersections around and say, 'Well, this is why it fits,' that just doesn't sit right with me."

He said, "I just think this sets a precedent where we're going to end up having lots of requests for these and looking for angles as to how it will make things safer and I think there is a lot of research to demonstrate that a four-way stop does not necessarily make it safer, not least of which the stop-and-speed that it can cause amid intersections."

Commissioner Leslie Sadowski-Fuggitt cited "the fact that all the parking is on the street" as distinguishing the intersection at Summit and Park from other similar intersections.

"It think a heavily utilized park, plus only street parking does lend itself to making sure that we are trying to keep pedestrians as safe as we can."

Mayor Robert Barnett said upcoming discussions with the Transportation Advisory Board may be a good opportunity to discuss the concerns Commissioner Davenport raised.