Elmhurst may return grant money for Prairie Path crossing at York Street

An Elmhurst City Council committee plans to recommend the city return $1.76 million in grant money secured in 2012 to create a grade separation at the Illinois Prairie Path's York Street crossing.

Instead, members of the public affairs and safety committee will recommend taking steps to improve the existing crossing.

The DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference awarded the grant to Elmhurst for a project, such as an underpass, to separate walkers and bikers from road traffic at the accident-prone intersection. At the time, the grant was estimated to cover 75 percent of the construction costs.

City Manager James Grabowski now estimates such a project could cost the city $1 million or more if no additional outside funding was secured.

Since receiving the grant, the city has made multiple at-grade improvements to the intersection, including adding flashing beacons in 2012 that trail users can activate by pushing a button, adding signage in 2014, and having park district crews trim and remove trees to improve sight lines in 2016.

In 2017, the city commissioned a feasibility study that detailed five alternatives to the original plans, including other improvements to the crossing or the possibility of relocating the intersection.

Officials say there were 57 recorded accidents at the crossing, including 12 involving a pedestrian or cyclist, from Jan. 1, 2006, through Dec. 3, 2018. That includes five pedestrian or cyclist accidents since 2016; three involved minor injuries, while one involved a head injury and one involved a leg injury.

The committee agreed to submit the proposal, with minor changes, to the full council to vote on at its April 15 meeting.