Mount Prospect looking at ways to slow traffic through Hatlen Heights neighborhood
Mount Prospect trustees on Tuesday will consider recommendations to reduce speeding and cut-through traffic in the Hatlen Heights subdivision.
The village’s Transportation Safety Commission unanimously recommended the measures aimed at easing problems that have long plagued the neighborhood between Central and Golf roads.
The $30,000 project would focus on Audrey Lane, Hatlen Avenue, Grindel Drive, Connie Lane and Meier Road.
The plan calls for:
- Mini traffic circles at the intersections of Audrey Lane and Grindel Drive, and Hatlen Avenue and Grindel Drive.
- Speed feedback signs on Audrey Lane and Hatlen Avenue.
- A four-way stop at the intersection of Audrey and Connie lanes, with centerline pavement markings on the approach to the intersection.
- Pavement markings on Meier Road between Lincoln Street and Connie Lane to match the pavement markings on Meier Road south of Lincoln Street.
The village conducted a three-week traffic-calming trial in May to test proposed measures and gather resident feedback. Measures included cones, rubber curbs and temporary pavement markings.
The measures reduced by about 70% the number of drivers exceeding 35 mph in the 25 mph zone, village officials said.
In a neighborhood poll, 47 residents voted in favor of an all-way stop at Audrey and Connie lanes, 14 against residents against it and six neutral.
A combination of mini traffic circles and speed feedback signs at intersections with Grindel Drive gained support from 25 residents, with 18 opposed. Thirty-eight residents supported pavement markings on Meier Road between Lincoln Street and Connie Lane, with 16 against and 15 neither for nor against.
The only item that failed to gain majority support was a proposal for raised median entrance islands off Central Road, which 46 residents opposed, 16 supported and four were neutral.