Northfield Roundabout Referendum Pits Parking, Trees Against Safety For Cars, Pedestrians

NORTHFIELD, IL — A non-binding referendum on the Nov. 5 ballot will let Northfield residents weigh in on a pending proposal to install a roundabout at the intersection of Happ Road, Orchard Lane and Walnut Street.

Initiated by the Save Happ Road Committee, the advisory referendum follows nearly eight years of planning, public meetings and committee deliberations on improvements to Happ Road involving village and Cook County officials.

Federal and state transportation funds are set to cover the entire cost of construction on the traffic element, which studies have shown improves safety and reduces congestion.

"Do you support the Village of Northfield's proposal to develop a roundabout at the intersection of Happ Road, Orchard Lane and Walnut Street, which would result in the removal of approximately 20 public parking spots currently available on Orchard Lane and Walnut Street?" asks the referendum.

Members of the committee that got the citizen-initiated referendum question on the ballot hope a strong showing of “no” votes will signal widespread resistance in the village of 5,600 people, potentially pausing or revising the project.

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The Save Happ Road Committee website claims that a roundabout will make the intersection less safe.

"Data shows that there is not a serious traffic flow issue or rate of accidents to warrant such severe and permanent measures," it said, without citing evidence.

During the five-year crash study of Orchard Lane leading up to the roundabout plan, there were 16 traffic crashes at the intersection, including four crashes with injuries.

And this summer, an 82-year-old Northfield woman was struck and killed by the driver of a black Mercedes SUV who failed to check the crosswalk while she pulled out of a driveway in the nearby 300 block of Happ Road, according to police.

"A roundabout is not appropriate in a town center," asserts the committee's website . "It will cause confusion, traffic back-ups and most likely an increase in accidents."

Studies have shown roundabouts reduce injury crashes by 72-80 percent and total crashes by 35-47 percent compared to traditional intersection, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Single-lane roundabouts have also been shown to "substantially lower pedestrian crash rates," and converting conventional intersections to roundabouts shown to reduce collisions with pedestrians by 75 percent.

And research by the Federal Highway Administration has shown that roundabouts can reduce delays and improve traffic flow, with a study by the National Cooperative Highway Research Program finding a 62 percent to 74 percent reduction in some cases.

Plus, the Happ Road intersection is not a traditional one. Its current configuration includes no stop signs for traffic on Happ Road but stop signs on Orchard Lane and Walnut Street.

Signs warn pedestrians at the crosswalk that "cross traffic does not stop" at the intersection, which is located one block immediately south of Willow Road.

A presentation at a September public meeting about the project addressed some of the concerns of Northfield residents and business owners, including the concerns that unfamiliar drivers will be unable to navigate a new roundabout.

"Roundabouts are certainly not as common as standard intersections," it said. "However, they have been used with great success in numerous states and countries where drivers have become quite accustomed to navigating them."

The plan would result in the removal of about 20 public parking spaces along Orchard Lne and Walnut Street, prompting complaints from the owners of nearby businesses.

Beyond safety and logistics, roundabout foes argue it would diminish green spaces and disrupt the residential quality of the village center.

Save Happ Road Committee representatives suggested about 20 mature trees would be removed to make way for the roundabout and a center turn lane planned for the residential section of Happ Road, which is also opposed by the committee.

While the committee warned a center turn lane would invite higher speeds and larger trucks, backers counter that a center lane reduces congestion caused by left-turning vehicles and delivery drivers, which often block traffic on the narrow road.

The proposed design also includes new sidewalks and a bike path, aimed at enhancing the road’s walkability, a goal central to the 2040 Vision Plan adopted by village officials and aligned with its emphasis on creating a “central place” that supports local businesses and community gathering spaces.

Nonetheless, supporters of a "no" vote suggest a roundabout "will cause people to avoid downtown Northfield rather than attract them, again hurting local businesses."

Read more: 'We Need To Pump Brakes' Before Heading Into Roundabout Construction, Village Trustee Says