Lemont OKs traffic‑signal design, orders Smith Road corridor study and cites $500,000 bike‑trail grant

The Lemont Village Board on June 9 approved a professional engineering agreement to design a traffic signal at 130th Street and Derby Road and authorized a corridor study of Smith Road to analyze truck routing and other safety and capacity issues.

The moves came after the board voted to contract HR Green Inc. for the 130th/Derby signal design and to hire Lochner (Lochner Inc.) for a Smith Road area corridor study; both actions passed on roll calls with all members present voting yes. Village Administrator George told the board the village also recently received Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) funding of about $500,000 to support a separated bike trail along 130th Street, a project the administrator said would feed into the same corridor work.

Board members and staff said the actions are intended to address growing traffic and safety pressures as nearby development and industrial activity have increased truck traffic in and near residential areas. The corridor study will analyze existing conditions, truck‑routing options and potential jurisdictional transfers; staff estimated the study will take roughly five to six months to complete.

The signal design agreement with HR Green was presented as a staff recommendation for engineering at 130th Street and Derby Road. The board motion to approve the agreement was made by Trustee Stapleton, seconded by Trustee Shaughnessy, and carried on a roll call that recorded yes votes from Trustees Shaughnessy, Snigowski, Stapleton and Forsley; two trustees were absent. The HR Green contract amount presented by staff was $54,606.51.

The Smith Road corridor study agreement with Lochner was presented to evaluate the area roughly described in the meeting as from 130th Street/First to 120th/Seventh and adjacent segments the village maintains. The study scope, as described to the board, includes data collection, a review of existing plans and traffic data, analysis of proposed improvements including truck routing and options to restrict or reroute truck traffic, and review of jurisdictional transfer possibilities and related legal requirements. The motion to approve the Lochner agreement was moved by Trustee Snigowski, seconded by Trustee Shaughnessy, and approved by roll call (same four yes votes; two absent). Staff said consultants would contact local residents and unincorporated property owners with firsthand knowledge of truck movements as part of data collection.

Village Administrator George said the board previously approved early‑phase engineering for related corridor improvements and that the newly announced ITEP grant — about $500,000 for phase‑1 engineering — will fund a separated bike trail on 130th Street linking Derby Road to Bell Road. George said combined federal and state funding should position the village to fund construction, with a target build year discussed as 2027.

Board discussion repeatedly noted jurisdictional constraints: several streets in the study area are in unincorporated Will County but are physically maintained by the village, prompting concern that non‑village businesses and truck routes that do not pay village taxes nonetheless impose wear and safety impacts on village‑maintained roads. Board members asked the consultant to examine truck restrictions, transfer options and legal requirements that would affect village control or ability to manage truck traffic.

Separately, Village Administrator George alerted the board to a Will County Land Use Department notice for a rezoning request at 13141 South High Road (a map amendment from A‑1 to I‑3) that would permit outdoor storage of vehicles, RVs, construction equipment and building materials on unincorporated property. Staff said the village had previously submitted a letter of objection on related applications and expected to prepare another letter to Will County; George said the board could discuss the county hearing at an upcoming committee meeting.

During audience participation, resident Matt Glasso told the board he and his wife had limited pedestrian access from their Oak Tree subdivision to nearby businesses and asked for help improving walkability; board members and staff pointed to the 130th Street bike/ped work and an ongoing ADA transition planning effort as relevant efforts.

What’s next: consultants will begin the corridor study once contracts are finalized; staff said they will seek public input during the study and that engineering and permitting for the 130th/Derby signal will proceed with the goal of having plans ready for bidding in the coming year.