Des Plaines to Make Case for New Traffic Signal to IDOT

The City of Des Plaines is steering toward constructing a new traffic signal. Aldermen voted to direct city staff to complete a traffic count study at the intersection of Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue at a meeting on May 6.

Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman said the intersection was in his ward, and he supported a traffic signal to be installed.

“I’m very interested in pushing for this for a long time; I think this definitely is needed,” Brookman said.

Sixth Ward Alderman Mark Walsten, who was acting Mayor on May 6, said a traffic signal at Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue was necessary.

“That’s a very dangerous intersection,” Walsten said. “I’ve seen people backed up four-to-five cars, and somebody’s going to get hurt — I’m telling you that — I believe we need it.”

The traffic volume study was completed, said Derek Peebles, civil engineer, and the information is being prepared to submit to the Illinois Department of Transportation to request a permit for a traffic signal. 

The traffic volume data show the intersection is close to meeting the required federal qualifications, called warrants, for a traffic signal to be constructed, Peebles said.

“Our preliminary review shows that we are very near to meeting one of the warrants,” Peebles said. 

Peebles said the traffic is calculated with different equations, depending on which way vehicles turn and other factors, but total, raw number of vehicles traveling eastbound on E. Forest Avenue increased approximately 58 percent since 2010, when the study was last completed. In 2010, 501 vehicles were counted in 12 hours, Peebles said, and in 2013 that increased to 793. 

The opening of Boston Fish Market and other new development, and traffic from the Aldi grocery story and Advance Auto Parts store may be contributing to the increase in traffic volume from 2010 to 2013.

The total cost of constructing a traffic signal at the intersection of Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue could be close to a million dollars, Tim Oakley, director of public works and engineering told aldermen.

A , Peebles said, most of which was paid for by a variety of federal and other grant funding.

Similar grants could be applied for if a traffic signal were approved for Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue, Peebles said, but funding this type of project is a very competitive, lengthy process.

“It’s a long road; we’re just starting,” Peebles said.

Related:

• Traffic at Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue in Des Plaines on Video
• Vote in our poll: Should There Be a Traffic Light at Lee Street and E. Forest Avenue in Des Plaines?

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