75th Street Widening

DuPage County announced plans to widen 75th Street in certain areas through the City of Darien at a meeting on June 9, 2009. Based on these plans, elected officials, staff and residents provided many concerns and recommendations to DuPage County, which are listed below.

DuPage County 75th Street Widening Plan - Issues and Recommendations- 7-20-09

ISSUE	RECOMMENDATIONS

1. There are storm water concerns on 75^th Street between Lemont Road and Clarendon Hills Road.	Replace open drainage system with storm sewers. DuPage County should review the storm water from Florence Avenue East of Fairview Avenue to ensure flow to the proposed enclosed system.

2. The proposed plan has a third lane immediately east of Williams Street, bringing vehicles closer to pedestrians and homes.	A six foot earth berm should be constructed between Williams Street and Walgreens. The berms should have a 4-1 slope and over story evergreens planted on top. The sidewalk on the South of 75^th Street between Walgreens and Fairview Avenue should be moved further North to allow for the construction of the berm and improve pedestrian traffic affected by tree growth.

3. The proposed plan has a third lane for westbound 75^th Street, bringing vehicles closer to pedestrians and homes. The new right turn lane at westbound Plainfield, (at Leonard) would require the sidewalk to be moved adjacent to the rear property line of residents.	An architectural wall 8-10 feet high should be constructed on the north side of 75^th Street between Plainfield Road and the Hollywood Video Store at 75th and Cass Ave. The proposed street and sidewalk elevation adjacent to the right turn bay would put vehicles and pedestrians at the same elevation level with the residences bedrooms. The County should install an architectural wall 8-10 feet high between the Darien Park District site and 75th Street. Staff is suggesting a wall as constructed at the north-east corner of Route 83 and 67^th Street.

4. The sidewalk is not linked on the North side of 75^th Street between Our Lady of Peace Church and Subway.	Construct the sidewalk

5. The streetscape qualities of 75^th Street will be reduced with smaller landscape medians and more road surface.	Four inch caliper trees should be planted every 50 feet within the limits of the proposed northern and southern right of ways. Ornamental LED lighting should be added to replace the existing street lights from Williams Street to Clarendon Hills Road. Low growing shrubbery and grasses should be planted to enhance the 75^th Street medians. An irrigation system should be built within the proposed planting beds. The medians at all barried left turn lanes within the limits of the proposed construction should be constructed with paver brick. Sidewalk areas in poor condition along 75^th and Plainfield Roads should be replaced as needed. Provide lighted street signs at intersections.

6. The proposed plan includes an increase to nine traffic lanes at the intersection of 75^th and Cass Avenue.	The County should reduce the number of lanes, focusing on reducing the number of left turn lanes on north/south bound Cass Avenue at 75^th. A pedestrian bridge should be constructed over 75^th Street in front of Walgreens. The County should provide an analysis of the pedestrian safety features associated with the intersection changes.

7. The project could have adverse effects on new curb cuts at Speedway and the proposed Town Center Development.	The plans need to include the proposed driveway cuts for Speedway on 75^th Street and Cass Avenue. The plans shall include a provision for a driveway cut on eastbound 75^th Street east of Cass Avenue for the future re-development.

8. Planned restrictions of left turns on to Cass avenue from Brookhaven Plaza and the future Town Center Development may have a negative impact on the business in the 2 properties.	The County should permit left hand turns or provide information as to why they recommend turning restrictions. The City of Darien is requesting that the County review the current offsets of the existing driveways and reconstruct, realign the driveways. The County should review the addition of a traffic signal to allow left hand turnouts. Consideration should also include a pedestrian crossing.

9. The project will have an impact on the residents along 75^th and Plainfield.	The County completed an impact study as part of the preliminary engineering work. The County should provide the City with a copy of the study that was completed so the community can be aware of the direct and indirect impacts of the proposed project including air quality, noise, aesthetics, health and safety, land use, and socioeconomics (e.g., potential future development due to widening of the road and its effect on property values), and identify the mitigation measures the County will include in the project.

10. Current preliminary plans have not yet been presented to the public by the County.	County needs to schedule and conduct public meetings allowing residents to comment on the proposal. This needs to take place prior to final engineering so residents can have meaningful input.

11. District 61 School Officials are discussing reconfiguring the Lace School parking lot for ingress and egress patterns onto Cass Ave and 75^th Street.	School Officials to propose preliminary concepts and forward to the City for incorporation to the City’s review comments.

12. District 61 School Officials are discussing reviewing the traffic pattern for east bound and westbound frontage road referred to as Nothacker Drive.	School Officials to propose comments and forward to the City for incorporation to the City’s review comments.

13. District 61 School Officials are requesting a safety barrier adjacent to the baseball fields/playground adjacent to the Lace School 75^th Street frontage to prevent vehicular traffic from entering the abovementioned areas.	County officials had informed Staff and School Officials on July 13, 2009 at the site meeting that the Curb will be a barrier type at a height of 9-inches. The County should incorporate the installation of a 4 to 5 foot earth berm with over story trees fronting the abovementioned location.

14. The project provides an opportunity for the County to improve public transportation.	County should review public transportation routes along 75^th and Plainfield and install waiting areas as needed at bus stops.

If you have additional comments or recommendations you would like forwarded to DuPage County, please e-mail them to Dan Gombac, Director of Municipal Services, at dgombac@darien.il.us