Stop sign at Willowbrook up for debate

Differing views among Villa Park officials over the effectiveness of a proposed stop sign near Willowbrook High School has some parents upset.

The parents are questioning why nothing happened after the village's traffic and safety commission in January recommended that a stop sign be placed at the intersection of Highridge Road and Ardmore Avenue until federal grant money could be secured to buy a traffic light.

Village Manager Robert Niemann said the issue unintentionally "slipped through the cracks" after a delay in receiving feedback from local school districts about the possible project.

Niemann gave trustees that recommendation and results of a 2006 Ardmore Avenue traffic study after a group of parents this week tried unsuccessfully to put the issue onto the board's agenda.

Trustees are expected to discuss issues concerning the intersection during their Oct. 9 meeting. A group of parents plan to speak out for a stop sign at that meeting.

Superintendent Steve Humphrey called morning and afternoon traffic issues around Willowbrook "a historic problem."

In August, Michael Welch, assistant superintendent for operations, replied to the village's feedback request that "the three-way stop sign would allow both cars and buses to more easily turn from Highridge to Ardmore during school arrival and dismissal times."

But now, Humphrey said, "Just because you have a stop sign doesn't mean you've increased safety. Students cross all along Ardmore. Just because you place it at Highridge doesn't mean they will come down to (Highridge) to cross."

Humphrey said the school district would support whatever final recommendation the village makes, even if that means opposing a stop sign.

Deputy Police Chief Mark Johnson said in a recent village memo that based on the 2006 traffic study, the department is "strongly in favor" of a stop light at Highridge and Ardmore.

But, Johnson said, a stop sign would create "a monumental southbound backup that will not alleviate the problem, rather exacerbate it."

Absent a sign, Johnson said, "Yearly accident statistics for Ardmore and Highridge are minimal. Installation of stop signs would actually place more vehicles in jeopardy."