DuPage County staff propose advisory 15 mph signs after trail speed counts

Melissa Kauskas, senior transportation planner for the DuPage County Division of Transportation, told the Transportation Committee on Feb. 4 that county staff conducted summer 2024 speed counts on the Illinois Prairie Path and Great Western Trail and are proposing advisory trail signage that recommends a 15 mph maximum and lists trail etiquette.

Kauskas said the county recorded 121 bicyclists across five count locations between July and August 2024; 88% were pedal cyclists and 12% were electric bicycles. The recorded average speed for e-bikes was 15.75 mph with a highest observed speed of 22.5 mph; pedal cyclists averaged 12.15 mph with a highest observed speed of 20.57 mph. The proposed signs would be advisory (not regulatory), use the DuPage County Trails Plan color scheme (Illinois Prairie Path green, Great Western Trail orange, Southern DuPage Regional Trail blue), include etiquette reminders and a QR code linking to the DuPage County Citizen Reporter and the county maintenance dispatch line, and were reviewed by the county's state's attorney's office.

Kauskas said staff recommend initially installing five 12-by-24-inch signs near high-use trailheads based on a separate, broader 2023–24 trail-count effort funded by an IDOT Statewide Planning and Research grant; that larger count surveyed about 40 locations and the results are posted through the DuPage Trail app. She told the committee the speed counts purposely targeted long, undisturbed sections of trail to capture users' top speeds and were conducted at different times of day and days of the week to broaden sampling.

Members asked several practical questions during the presentation. Member Abbots raised a security concern about visible QR codes and the risk of malicious stickers or replacement codes; staff said they plan to keep the QR code for now but can remove or change it if problems arise and that the maintenance phone number will remain on the sign. Committee members also questioned sign size; staff said they tested prototypes (including a 12-by-18 and variations) and sought a balance between legibility for passing users and avoiding a sign so large it would distract or create a collision hazard. The committee asked staff to re-check final dimensions before production.

Member Rutland asked that signage acknowledge equestrian use where appropriate and suggested wording to warn bicyclists about unpredictable large animals; staff said they can add contextual language or localized horse warnings on trail segments that see horse traffic. Committee members also requested that a small emergency note reading "Call 911" be placed below the advisory sign; staff said they plan a small white-and-red plate beneath the sign for that purpose.

Kauskas said staff intend the signage to be advisory rather than regulatory; the yellow advisory panel will post a recommended speed and the phrase "Do not exceed safe travel speeds." The signs will also list prohibited activities (camping, alcoholic beverages, unauthorized motor vehicles) and etiquette (announce when passing, pass on the left, move off the trail when stopped, keep dogs leashed, use trash receptacles). No formal committee vote was taken; the item was a presentation and discussion and staff will return with final design, placement and production details.