Lombard wants to curb crashes

Roosevelt Road and Main Street tops the list of the most crash-prone intersections in Lombard.

So far this year, there have been 54 traffic crashes at this primary artery into the Lilac Village.

To help reduce the number of collisions, Lombard officials have asked the Illinois Department of Transportation to make changes at heavily traveled crossings.

Lombard's list of hazardous intersections is the result of new software that became available to police in January, Deputy Chief Dane Cuny said.

Under the old accident reporting system, Cuny said, police officers wrote reports by hand, made copies and mailed the paperwork to IDOT, which compiled the data.

"It would take 18 months to get the data," Cuny said.

This year, Lombard started using crash reporting software that immediately transmits accident information to the state.

To further curb accidents, Lombard police said they will begin using unmarked vehicles at crash-prone intersections and other "hot spots," as determined by the village's existing traffic data.

All but one of the five worst intersections have something in common: Roosevelt Road.

Lombard's four other top crash sites are: Roosevelt and Finley roads with 48 crashes, Roosevelt and Fairfield Avenue with 38 crashes, Route 53 and North Avenue with 33 crashes; and Roosevelt and Highland Avenue with 29 crashes.

Roosevelt is the site of 29 percent of all of the village's traffic accidents, police say.

"Quite frankly, roadway design and traffic timing have the biggest impact on determining what's wrong," Cuny said. "If the road is poorly designed, it's something the driver can't overcome."

As a result of the study, Lombard is asking IDOT to make changes to turn lanes and traffic signals along Roosevelt, Public Works Director Wes Anderson said.

According to Anderson, IDOT told the village in June that the agency will "look at the possibility" of seeking highway safety funds to pay construction costs.

So far, while IDOT officials are aware of the situation, Anderson said the agency hasn't unveiled plans for improvements at Roosevelt intersections.

Several attempts were made to reach IDOT officials familiar with Lombard's request. No IDOT engineers were available for comment.

In the meantime, Lombard leaders could make their own changes along the state route.

Village President William Mueller said police and village staff are researching the possibility of placing cameras at the four Roosevelt intersections.

Already, Mueller said, he can anticipate critics of such a proposal might view it as a money grab by the village.

"Some people will say it is about revenue, but it's not really a revenue-producing thing," Mueller said. "It is about safety."

Mueller said recent studies in other communities have shown that traffic cameras can act as a speeding deterrent and can lower accident rates by up to 40 percent.

Through such a reduction, Mueller said, "We save a lot of injuries, we save a lot of lives and we save a lot of time spent by our police and fire personnel at the scenes of accidents."

While the village is committed to improving Roosevelt intersections, Mueller said, it's IDOT's work that can make the biggest impact.

"Years ago, Route 53 and North Avenue was our leader for worst crash sites," Mueller said. "Then IDOT made changes.

"I don't want to say it's 100 percent safe," Mueller said, "but it is safer than it was."

Mueller said traffic signals should be re-timed along Roosevelt.

"Because we don't have enough light time, we get people sneaking through on ambers and quick reds," he said. "Drivers need more time."

But drivers also need to pay more attention to the road, said Lombard police officer Joseph Grage, the member of the department's traffic unit who compiled the crash totals.

"We see people who aren't paying attention to the road, and people in a rush, making left turn signals in front of oncoming traffic," Grage said.

"Knowing the number of accidents on Roosevelt," Grage said, "maybe drivers will take more time to be careful."