Rolling Meadows aldermen call for Algonquin Road safety upgrades after two fatalities
Rolling Meadows aldermen have called for safety improvements along a darkened stretch of Algonquin Road, where two pedestrians were struck by vehicles in about a year's time.
Alderman Nick Budmats suggests more street lighting, a crosswalk, or yellow flashing lights that could be activated by pedestrians, as ways to make the busy thoroughfare safer for those traveling by foot.
Budmats says while visiting an ice cream shop on Algonquin Road near Weber Drive, he regularly sees pedestrians crossing Algonquin - getting past the initial two lanes of traffic, then stopping in the center lane and waiting for cars to pass before they can cross the next two lanes.
"It's pretty dark over there," he said. "That whole corridor could use a little bit more light. That part of our community is prone to walking to where they want to go versus driving to where they want to go."
Alderman Lara Sanoica said funds could be available through the Northwest Municipal Conference to pay for potential projects to make the area more pedestrian friendly.
The city's traffic review committee is expected to look into the situation.
The city council discussion came after a 21-year-old Rolling Meadows man died last Saturday after he was hit by an SUV as he attempted to cross Algonquin Road near Kimball Hill Drive.
In August 2018, a 43-year-old Rolling Meadows man was struck and killed by a car on Algonquin near Weber.
City Manager Barry Krumstok told aldermen at this week's council meeting there are differences between the two fatalities, but that he couldn't discuss further details until the police investigation into the latest case concludes.
Police Sgt. Mike Spanos on Friday said he expects the investigation to take another week or two. No charges or citations have been issued to the driver of the SUV, who remained on the scene and was cooperative with police investigators, Spanos said.