North Aurora moves to pursue Route 31 'road diet' feasibility and IDOT approvals; $95,000 for engineering included in draft budget

Vince DiPrimo of WBK Engineering presented a feasibility study to the Village of North Aurora Committee of the Whole on April 21 recommending a lane reallocation — commonly called a ‘road diet’ — on Illinois Route 31 from about 500 feet south of Moose Heart Road to Airport Road to improve safety and left‑turn movements.

WBK’s traffic analysis, which used village counts and regional growth rates from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), showed the corridor’s average daily traffic varies by segment: roughly 18,000 vehicles between Moose Heart Road and Oak Street; about 24,000 through the downtown bridge segment between Oak and State Street; roughly 16,000 between State and Airport; and more than 24,000 south of Airport Road. The study recommended leaving the downtown five‑lane section (Oak to State) unchanged while converting adjacent four‑lane sections to a three‑lane section (one lane each direction plus a two‑way left‑turn lane) with 11‑foot travel lanes and modest outside shoulders.

WBK said the alignment change aims to reduce lane‑width‑related conflicts and provide a safer space for left turns and pedestrian crossings. Ryan Sykes of WBK cited Federal Highway Administration research and the project’s crash history (162 crashes at seven key intersections from 2019–2023, mostly rear‑end, left‑turn and same‑direction sideswipe collisions) as reasons a road diet could improve safety.

The study outlined a three‑phase delivery path that must be coordinated with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT): preliminary engineering and Project Development Report (PDR) and public involvement; detailed design and bid documents; and construction and oversight. WBK provided budgetary estimates of roughly $95,000 for phases 1–2 combined and about $130,000 for construction and oversight; the firm also estimated striping/marking and sign installation costs in the construction estimate.

Funding options discussed included locally funded work (fastest to begin), IDOT’s Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) with a 90/10 split (subject to a qualifications‑based selection and application cycle), and Surface Transportation Program (STP) funding (approximately 80/20 split through the local council of mayors) for construction. WBK advised the village that the HSIP application cycle was open and closes in June, with selections expected in September; STP calls would follow a later schedule. Village staff told trustees the draft budget slated $95,000 for WBK engineering work and that the village can proceed with IDOT permitting if the board directs it.

Trustees raised concerns about potential effects on downtown businesses, transitions between three‑ and five‑lane sections, emergency access near the fire station and coordination with an IDOT resurfacing project planned for the corridor this summer. WBK said the study stops at Airport Road to avoid higher volumes closer to I‑88 and because lane widths return to normal south of Airport Road. Several trustees voiced support for moving forward with the engineering work; one trustee said, "I'd say move forward with it," and others expressed concurrence.

No formal binding vote was recorded on a capital commitment beyond including the engineering amount in the draft budget; staff noted the HSIP and STP application timelines and the need for IDOT approvals before construction. The committee concluded the presentation and discussion by directing staff to continue the permitting and funding coordination with WBK and IDOT.

The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn that carried by voice vote.