Residents near the intersection of Diversey Avenue and York Street told Elmhurst City Council members Monday that development on the city’s north side has led to traffic safety problems and called for a traffic light at the intersection.
“Everyone’s very happy with the development on the north side,” said new resident Don Gelsomino, “but with that comes a heavy increase in traffic.”
That development includes Mariano’s and a car wash along with traffic drawn to restaurants and existing fast food operations. The area is also home to Conrad Fischer Elementary School and Churchville Middle School.
The neighborhood on the east side of York is west of Mount Emblem Cemetery and south of Grand Avenue and includes areas known as Crown Estates and Country Club Highlands.
Joe Martucci, who has lived in the area for 56 years, said the schools mean hundreds of children pass through the area, including on buses and in cars. At times, Martucci said, “it’s impossible to make a right or left turn out of Diversey (onto York). We need help here.”
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The speakers were backed by another dozen residents, including DuPage County Board member Pete DiCianni, who presented a petition he said was signed by 400 people living in the area.
DiCianni and other speakers said they were confident a traffic study would show a clear need for a traffic light and marked crosswalks at the intersection. But they asked that city officials delay that study until schools are back in session.
DiCianni suggested funds to improve safety at the intersection could come from tax increment financing money or from a community development block grant.
Ald. Dannee Polomsky said she and fellow Public Affairs and Safety Committee member Ald. Bob Dunn are interested in evaluating the intersection. Polomsky said she had already been in touch with Police Chief Michael Ruth to request accident data from the last several years.
Ald. Michael Bram said most of the area is unincorporated but the corner itself is in his 3rd Ward.
Longtime area resident Marilyn Sansone, who lives on Crown Road, said she thought the intersection is very dangerous.
It wasn’t clear whether Polomsky’s committee would take up the issue at its next meeting on Monday, but several residents said they would attend.