Elmhurst Ups Speed Limit Over Neighbor Protests
ELMHURST, IL – The Elmhurst City Council on Tuesday voted to increase the speed limit in a local neighborhood, despite residents who objected to such a move.
After nearly an hour’s debate, aldermen voted 7-6 to hike the limit to 25 mph, from 20 mph.
The change applies to five streets running south from St. Charles Road – Washington Street and Argyle, Mitchell, Prospect and Cottage Hill avenues.
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The speed adjustment was part of a larger list of traffic recommendations from a city-hired traffic consultant, KLOA. Over the last couple of years, the city has been conducting neighborhood-by-neighborhood traffic studies.
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The consultant and the local police both recommended raising the limit to keep the neighborhood in question consistent with the city’s 25 mph residential limit. A few other neighborhoods still have 20 mph limits.
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Neighbors argued the speed limit should stay as is, given cut-through traffic.
Ward 2 Alderman Jacob Hill, who was the lone member of a council committee to back raising the speed limit, said the traffic studies were meant to avoid the special exceptions that the city has historically given.
He said he had designated “safe routes to school” without sidewalks in his ward.
“We have cut-through streets with high speeds everywhere in Elmhurst,” Hill said. “If we’re going to do it for one, I want equity and uniformity for all.”
Ward 7 Alderman Mike Brennan, who heads the same committee, disagreed. He said the consultant’s report noted courts typically uphold tickets only when they are at last 8 to 10 mph over the limit.
“This quote alone screams to keep the speed limit at 20 mph,” Brennan said.
Like other aldermen, he said one of the most frequent complaints from residents is speeding.
“Thus it’s illogical to me to increase speeds anywhere in the city of Elmhurst,” he said. “It just doesn’t resonate as a logical thought.”
Both Ward 5 aldermen, James Nudera and Tina Park, who represent the neighborhood, opposed an increase.
Nudera said data shows drivers are already exceeding the limit in the neighborhood. Raising the limit, he said, would encourage more speeding, putting pedestrians and cyclists at risk.
“If it isn’t broke, let’s not fix it. Let’s just control it,” Nudera said.
Park said, “While I value consistency, I feel it’s just forcing it in this instance. Fair doesn’t always mean equal.”
Ward 3 Alderman Chris Jensen said he was glad the recent debate made him aware that some areas of Elmhurst have 20 mph limits. He said he went with what he was told in driver’s ed – 25 mph in residential areas, except school zones.
“I think standardization as a general policy is good, but there are situations where exceptions can be warranted,” he said.
In this case, though, Jensen said he would follow the recommendation of the police and the consultant.
Hill, Jensen, Brian Cahill, Emily Bastedo, Rex Irby, Karen Sienko and Michael Bram voted to raise the limit.
On the other side were Brennan, Park, Nudera, Noel Talluto, Marti Deuter and Jennifer Veremis. Guido Nardini was absent.
After the decision, Park said she would vote for the larger report with recommended changes, including the speed limit hike. Others followed suit. That vote was unanimous.
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