Elgin red-light plan inches forward, but key site ruled out

The state has rejected a request from Elgin city leaders to install red light cameras at Randall Road and Route 72, which in past years was named Kane County's most dangerous intersection.

Last year, the Illinois Department of Transportation installed brighter traffic lights there, along with adding a signal that allows motorists turn left on a green arrow only instead of creeping forward and turning before oncoming traffic.

IDOT officials could not be reached for comment, but police said a significant drop in crashes there made the cameras moot.

"They feel their improvements they made were sufficient," Deputy Police Chief Robert Beeter said of IDOT. "We weren't totally surprised. It makes sense. It was a welcomed improvement. Regardless of how we get there, our goal is to reduce crashes."

And accidents are about half of what they were two years ago, according to police.

Elgin Deputy Chief Jeff Swoboda said there were 42 crashes at that intersection from Jan. 1, 2009, through Tuesday.

During the same time periods in 2007 and 2008, there were 79 and 61 crashes, respectively.

The city has applied to Kane County for permission to install cameras at three intersections along Randall: Bowes, Big Timber and Hopps roads.

Beeter said the cameras will monitor north-south traffic. The county has not given a time frame for approving the request.

With the city scrambling to plug a $5.5 million budget deficit by the end of the year, the camera issue has been pushed to the back burner.

Elgin City Manager Sean Stegall said the city still plans to move forward with the cameras if it will enhance safety.

"We're not doing it for the purpose of generating more revenue," he said.

The city has been kicking around red-light camera concept for nearly two years.

In January 2008, the city suggested 13 trial intersections be evaluated by RedFlex, an Arizona-based firm that also monitors Chicago's program.

In February, those 13 intersections were narrowed to three, but those were ruled out for various reasons.

The city has intersection improvements planned for Dundee Avenue and Summit Street, so it would be inefficient to install cameras there that would be removed with construction.

Also, train-arm signals would have interfered with the red-light cameras at eastbound and westbound Big Timber Road and McLean Boulevard and westbound Kimball Road at State Street, or Route 31.