Lombard leaders eyeing lower speed limit

Motorists may have to slow down while driving through Lombard in the future if village officials pursue a lower speed limit on local streets.

Village officials revived the idea Thursday after continuing to get periodic requests from residents seeking lower speed limits on individual streets in various areas of the community.

"It's a lot easier if everywhere in Lombard is 25 miles per hour," Village President William Mueller said. "If you still support it, I think we need to move forward."

Police Chief Ray Byrne says he supports the idea.

"We're getting requests to lower it here and there," Byrne said. "I don't agree with this piecemeal approach. It should be more uniform. It's logical."

It's illogical to require motorists to drive 25 mph on collector roads like Maple and Madison streets, but then allow them to drive 30 mph down side streets like Fairfield and LaLonde avenues, Byrne said.

At least one obstacle may hinder the effort aimed a reducing speeding motorists.

Home-rule communities can reduce the speed limit universally on residential streets from the state-established 30 mph to 25 mph. However, communities like Lombard without home-rule authority can only reduce the speed limit on individual streets after speed studies are done, officials said.

The village likely will have to undertake a village-wide traffic study, hold public hearings and possibly take other steps before making any changes, Byrne said.

"It can be done ... just not as easily as in other communities," Byrne said. "It's a lengthy process. We'll be exploring it."

Village officials also will likely consider the ramifications and other options to reduce speeding.

"Lowering the speed limit might not reduce speeding," Byrne said. "People will drive the speed they believe they can reasonably drive."

Other options include the sometimes controversial stop signs, speed humps and traffic circles, as well as landscaping and on-street parking, officials said. Some options may lead to motorists accelerating on other parts of streets, such as between stop signs, to make up the time, Byrne said.