Clashing Visions For Key La Grange Street

LA GRANGE, IL – A La Grange resident on Monday pushed for more stop signs and a lower speed limit on Brainard Avenue.

But the village president appeared to oppose such ideas, saying, "We want to keep Brainard being Brainard."

At a Village Board meeting, Bridget Murphy, who lives in the 500 block of South Brainard, told trustees that she has made no headway after pushing for action for four years.

Murphy, whose husband spoke to the board two weeks ago, said Brainard has become a "corridor of speeding and reckless driving."

And she said this particularly endangers pedestrians, including at the crosswalk at 48th Street.

She acknowledged the police department's efforts, but she said enforcement alone will not solve the problem.

Murphy compared Brainard, which is along the eastern edge of La Grange Country Club, to Edgewood Avenue, to the club's west.

Edgewood has three-way stops at Carriage Lane and 53rd Place, which correspond to 49th and 53rd streets on the Brainard side.

She suggested La Grange treat Brainard the same and put in three-way stops at the two intersections.

"These would create natural traffic-calming points and improved safety for pedestrians crossing at 48th," she said.

Murphy also recommended lowering the speed limit to 25 mph, from 30 mph; adding a speed radar display; and installing speed cushions, which she said are less disruptive than speed humps.

Village President Mark Kuchler said he appreciated the acknowledgement of the police department's work, saying they have been out a lot on Brainard.

Murphy asked, "How do we get engagement from you all?"

Kuchler said part of the problem is that Murphy may not be happy that the village is not doing more, but the staff is working on the most appropriate measures.

"Brainard is a street we want cars to go down," Kuchler said.

The village, he said, lowered its Brainard speed limit to 30 mph, compared to Countryside's 35 mph.

"The staff has studied it and so far has not recommended making (another) change," Kuchler said.

As for the Edgewood comparison, he said, "I don't want to make Brainard Edgewood. Then that traffic would go to another street."

He added, "You live on Brainard. You wish there were cars taken off Brainard and go onto another street."

Murphy said that was not her request.