Mt. Prospect seeks speed hump input

Before Mount Prospect trustees make any decisions on the speed humps along See-Gwun Avenue, the public will get a chance to weigh in.

At a joint meeting of the safety commission and the village board this week, it was agreed that a neighborhood meeting will be convened to talk about the results of the study of the humps, which were installed in April 2006 on See-Gwun between Lincoln Street and Golf Road.

No recommendation has been made on whether to keep or remove the traffic measure, which was aimed at limiting the amount of traffic cutting through the neighborhood. But village staff does not in general support speed humps, citing the issues of ongoing maintenance and the effect on response times for police and fire vehicles.

A study of the speed humps showed that average speeds on See-Gwun were lowered and traffic volume was reduced. On the other hand, an increase in traffic on adjacent streets was seen.

The village needs to address the broader question of criteria for traffic calming measures, the group decided.

"It has to be based on logic and facts and data, not based on a neighborhood saying, 'Oh, we want a speed hump,' " said Trustee Paul Hoefert.

The group also shared results of its follow-up on signage and speed limit adjustments in Zone 8, one of 18 zones examined in the village's Neighborhood Traffic Study.

Consistency of signage and speed limits has reduced accident levels and improved traffic flows, Hoefert said.

Trustee A. John Korn said no further changes are anticipated in Zone 8, which includes the area around Prospect High School, although concerns remain about speeds on the long blocks just south of Kensington Road and west of Route 83.