Why Elmhurst residents want safety improvements at York-Diversey intersection

Roughly two dozen Elmhurst residents expressed safety concerns about the intersection of York Road and Diversey Avenue and asked for a traffic signal and other improvements during Monday's city council meeting.

Six people spoke about the danger posed by cars trying to turn either left and right onto busy York Road without a stoplight.

The push was organized by Joe Martucci, who has lived in Elmhurst for 56 years, and Don Gelsomino, who coaches football at York High School. The men knocked on doors to gather more than 400 signatures on a petition, which they submitted to the council.

They said they would prefer for a traffic study to be done in the fall, after school resumes, to measure the full impact of student traffic on the intersection.

Martucci said some residents call the intersection "Suicide Corner" and called it "impossible" to turn from Diversey onto York.

"We need some help here," he said.

Peter DiCianni, a DuPage County Board member who served as mayor of Elmhurst from 2009 to 2012, also spoke during the forum. He cited a report saying about 1,000 students travel through the area each day during the school year and voiced concern for their safety.

Churchville Middle School and Conrad Fischer Elementary School are both close to the intersection.

DiCianni suggested the council apply for a community block grant to help cover the cost of improvements, which he said are necessary to "protect our north end and make it better."

Resident Joanne Saporta, who has lived in the area for 53 years, said she was involved in an accident near the intersection that led to five cars being totaled, including her own.

"I really can't tell you how important this is," she said.