Elgin roads smoother; how about quicker?

Now that Elgin has invested millions at making the city's roads smoother, perhaps it's time for suggestions on how to make them quicker.

This is not advocating increasing the speed limits.

Rather, there's some areas and intersections that could use a left-turn arrow here or a right on red there.

One light that could be improved upon is at Highland Avenue and State Street (Route 31).

For example, traffic headed north on State should have a green left turn arrow at Highland.

It seems to make sense.

There's one at Wing Street if you're going north on State.

What are your ideas? Feel free to e-mail me them and your reasons to hhitzeman@dailyherald.com or post them on message boards at www.dailyherald.com.

Who knows? Maybe the city will heed your suggestions. Or I could use them and ask city leaders what they think.

It could save gas, time, frustration and the environment in the long run.

More parking for Nick's on tap:

A plan to develop 5.2 acres on Randall Road in Elgin should create about 40 more parking spaces for the popular Nick's Pizza, 990 S. Randall Road.

The city's Planning and Development Commission recently gave the OK to Randall Commons, a plan to erect two buildings on the west side of Randall, just north of Nick's.

One building would be 23,000 square feet and the other about 11,000. If all goes well, grading would begin this fall and the construction would wrap up next fall.

"Randall and Bowes (Road) is almost the (geographical) center of Elgin because of all the westward development," said Mike Dachman, property development manager or Boulder Enterprises and former Elginite. "I hope this will be a good project for Elgin.

Bandits and Blizzards:

If you haven't seen the Chicago Bandits women fastpitch softball team play in Elgin this summer, on Aug. 7 they might come to you.

Team members will be at three Elgin area Dairy Queens from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as part of a fundraiser for the Chicago's Children's Miracle Network.

Proceeds from Blizzard sales will benefit the group.

The locations are: 1022 S. McLean; 704 W. Chicago St.; and 727 Villa St.

For information, call (877) 722-6348.