Roselle approves plan to add pedestrian-activated beacons on Rodenburg at Travis Parkway

Director of Development and Engineering Krista Meel presented a proposal on Jan. 14 to add pedestrian-activated warning beacons at the Rodenburg Road/Travis Parkway crosswalk. Meel said completion of the Rodenburg Road project and a new multi-use path have increased pedestrian and bicycle crossings near Travis Parkway, and residents reported difficulty crossing the wider roadway.

Meel said Schaumburg installed a similar solar-powered pedestrian-activated beacon at another nearby intersection and that the units produce a flashing yellow warning when activated. Based on IDOT guidance for locations that meet certain pedestrian and vehicle volume and speed criteria, Meel recommended installing the devices at the Travis crossing. Staff estimated materials and installation at $19,200 and said the contractor from the Rodenburg project could install the beacons this winter or in early spring at the same bid unit price.

Trustees asked whether IDOT approval would be required: staff said the Rodenburg Road location is village-owned so the village can proceed, while larger or state-controlled roads (for example Irving Park Road or Roselle Road) would require external agency approval. The village attorney added that the village’s compliance with agency guidance reduces the village’s liability exposure; pedestrians and vehicle operators retain legal responsibilities when using marked crosswalks.

Trustees indicated consensus to move forward with the installation; staff also said they are preparing a public education campaign about pedestrian safety for other intersections.

Ending

The board directed staff to proceed with installing the pedestrian-activated warning beacons at Rodenburg Road and Travis Parkway with an estimated materials and installation cost of $19,200; staff will coordinate installation with the existing contractor and prepare accompanying safety outreach.