Pedestrian Safety Study and Recommendations

In the spring of 2019, District 99 began working collaboratively with the Village of Downers Grove to review pedestrian safety on the roadways surrounding our schools. To help us, we engaged a pedestrian safety consultant. The consultant gathered detailed information about our current environment (such as vehicle speeds, crashes, near misses, videos, etc.), and developed suggested solutions to improve safety. 

Click Here for Final Consultant Report

DGN Recommendations

Main Street: Sherman Street to Lincoln Street
• Convert Main Street to three travel lanes
• Construct pedestrian refuge islands on Main Street and mark crosswalks
• School zone speed limit with speed feedback
• Enhance street lighting

Main Street: At Grant Street
• Construct curb extensions
• Stripe southbound left-turn lane
• Paint intersection/crosswalks
• Install covered bike parking and bus shelters

Main Street: Prairie Street to Downtown
• Stripe center turn lanes
• Modify traffic signal equipment and timings

Highland Avenue: Grant Street to Lincoln Street
• Install traffic calming elements

Saratoga Avenue: Ogden Avenue to Grant Street
• Complete sidewalk network
• Construct raised intersection at Sherman Street/Prince Street intersection
• Mark high visibility crosswalks

Ogden Avenue: Main Street to Saratoga Avenue (IDOT)
• Work with IDOT to:
 - Modify pedestrian signal phasing (LPI) at Saratoga Avenue intersection
 - Construct sidewalk on Ogden Avenue
 - Implement No Turn On Red restriction at Main Street intersection

DGS Recommendations

Main Street: Norfolk Street to Oxford Street (DuPage County)
• Work with DuPage County to:
 - Reduce posted speed limit and install speed feedback
 - Study and install a traffic signal at Main Street/Oxford Street
 - Relocate crosswalk to signalized intersection at Oxford Street 

63rd Street: Dunham Road to Springside Avenue (DuPage County)
• Work with DuPage County to:
 - Reduce posted speed limit and install speed feedback
 - Install traffic signal at Springside Avenue intersection
 - Modify geometry and signal phasing (LPI) at Dunham Road intersection
• Install fencing and streetscape enhancements
• Construct new school access driveway
• Construct sidewalk at gap on Dunham Road 

Dunham Road: 63rd Street to Norfolk Street
• Construct new school drop-off driveway
• Consolidate other redundant school driveways
• Construct curb extensions/reduce lanes Dunham Road/Norfolk Street 

Completed/In-Progress Safety Enhancements

• Safety Education Campaign at both schools
• Main Street speed limit reduced to 25 mph from Ogden Avenue to south of DGN
• School Zone 20 mph established in front of DGN on Main Street
• Temporary Digital Message Boards
• Speed Feedback Signs
• Traffic signal and crosswalk at 63rd Street and Springside Avenue approved for installation

Community Input

Community input was critical to identifying and addressing other needs, generating conversations and developing solutions. 

• An interactive map was open from August 16 to September 15, 2019; it allowed community members to document questions or concerns about specific intersections and areas.
• On September 5, 2019, a Community Pedestrian Safety Forum was held. We provided an update of what’s been done so far and provide feedback about your experiences and safety suggestions. (Click here to see a video.)
• A final community presentation was held on November 14, 2019 in the North High auditorium. The pedestrian safety consultants shared their report and recommendations for safety improvements surrounding both North High and South High. If you weren't able to attend the meeting, below you will find segmented videos for each area discussed along with the presentation slides included in the video. To view the slide presentation, click here.

Video Presentation Table of Contents:

• Welcome
• Next Steps
• Consultant Recommendations (updated as of Nov. 19, 2019)
• Specific Intersections (click below to view video and details):

1. North High: Main Street Corridor
2. North High: Main Street and Grant Street Intersection
3. North High: Highland Avenue Corridor
4. North High: Saratoga Avenue and West Campus
5. North High: Ogden Avenue Corridor
6. South High: 63rd Street Corridor
7. South High: 63rd Street and Dunham Road Intersection
8. South High: Norfolk Street / Dunham Road / Circulation
9. South High: Main Street and Oxford Street Intersection