Stop Sign Need & Parking Concern

Thank you for sharing this information with us.

I?’m concerned about the effect the school will have on the Greenview/Montrose intersection, which has already proven to be a fatal intersection. Just yesterday I called Dan at the alderman?’s office to discuss the need for a stop sign. I?’ve spoken to him a number of times and written a letter requesting a stop sign. In May he told me the alderman would request a traffic survey but I?’ve heard nothing more on this matter. I think the addition of a school further necessitates a stop sign. At a minimum the school should consider having a crossing guard at Greenview as it is impossible to cross the street with young children?— cars will not stop.

Also, the 4400 block of Greenview is already a difficult place to find a parking space. Maybe the 4400 and 4500 blocks should get speed bumps or become a one-way street to minimize the impact that the school will have on our already limited number of parking spaces.

Could we schedule a meeting with the alderman to discuss all these issues?


By Shana Trombley

Suggestions

Based on what I am hearing from the other e-mails, I have a couple of suggestions:

1. Have the pedistrian crosswalks painted at both the Montrose/Greenview and Greenview/Wilson intersections. I understand that crosswalks with the short, broad stripes require that cars stop anytime there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk. This should be quick and cheap.

2. Have two school or cross walk signs with flashing caution light (to flash 7:15-8:45am & 12:30-1:15pm & 3:30-4:15pm) on top installed at the Montrose/Greenview intersection. I would suspect that this would not require the requested IDOT study (which no one knows when/if it will actually happen) and will not affect the sequencing of lights at the Montrose/Clark and Montrose/Ashland intersections.

3. Have crossing guards at the Montrose/Clark, Montrose/Greenview, and Montrose/Ashland intersections from 7:15-8:45am & 12:30-1:15pm & 3:30-4:15pm on school days. Because this new school is between two other schools within a few blocks on Montrose, they may be able to coordinate the cost of these crossing guards with the two other schools.

4. As opposed to making Greenview one way or putting in speed bumps, put one of those round things in the middle of the Greenview/Sunnyside intersection to prevent people from running the stop sign. There are a number of these in Andersonville and they appear to be both functional and pretty (when planted).

5. Have the city install side walks on the north side of Wilson down to the Wilson/Greenview intersection. Okay, not really related, but a pet peave of mine.

6. Have the new school rent the space on the south-west corner of Greenview and Montrose as a drive through drop off point with school staff escourting the children from there to the school, thus minimizing the need for parents to park and providing them with an extra convience (so they are more likely to use it).
I agree with Carol that any lot used exclusively for parking should have access from the street.

What do others think about these suggestions? Would a petition help expedite suggestions 1, 2, 4, and 5?


Most of the ways that they plan on reducing the traffic impact rely upon voluntary compliance. Most of the alternatives offered under voluntary compliance appear to be at least somewhat inconvienent for those they are asking to comply. What can or will they do if voluntary compliance fails?

Comments on Suggestions

I like all of your suggestions except that I think # 1 is not so realistic as a safety feature?—I agree it should be done but I have low expectations for it because of my experience on the Lakefront bike path in which such crosswalks are iwde and clearly marked and people regularly tool through them oblivious to them.

Another concern that I have is that we are one of 3 landlocked homes on Wilson, and we must rely on street parking, which is bad enough with street cleaning and such.

I like the ?“drive through?” idea?—it would certianly create less congestion
in the morning.


By Linda Strothman

Help for Stop Sign

A few neighbors and I have been talking about some activities we could pull together to support our request for a stop sign at Greenview/Montrose. We would like to have our case pulled together prior to meeting with the alderman. Some of our ideas include:
a petition, a child?’s petition (using children?’s pictures, first names and ages), letters of support from schools (Stockton, Passages, Ravenswood and
Lakeview)and letters of support from businesses (Andies, Albert?’s Video, Ryans, Shoppe and Save, Walgreens etc.).

The following people have agreed to take on varies pieces of this effort: Molly Hammond, Megan Davis, Kerry Smith and myself.

Do you have any additional suggestions? What do you think of this plan? Thanks for your thoughts.

By Shana Trombley