Palos Park will develop an 18‑month transportation safety plan in partnership with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) after the Village Council approved a resolution to accept CMAP’s technical assistance.

Steven Ostrander, a senior planner at CMAP, told the council the program will analyze crash data and “identify and address barriers to safe travel” for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. He said CMAP will use a Safe System approach to target serious and fatal injuries and will conduct public engagement, recommend engineering countermeasures and policies, and identify potential funding sources to implement recommended improvements.

Commissioner Ward said the village’s 2018 Bicycle and Trails Plan identified the Southwest Highway/121st Street/Timber Lane area as a priority and that the village attorney had reviewed the agreement with no concerns. Ward also said the project requires a local financial contribution of about $8,000, which has been budgeted for the current fiscal year.

Resident Mary Ann Hanson later raised a public‑comment question about state jurisdiction, noting that Southwest Highway is operated by the State of Illinois and asking how state agencies would be involved in any changes recommended by the plan. Council members acknowledged the point and the CMAP project description notes that the study will consider regional destinations and external stakeholders as part of the planning process.

The resolution to accept planning services from CMAP (Res. 2025‑R‑10) passed unanimously among voting members present, recorded as 4–0 with one absence. Next steps, as described in the presentation, include data analysis, community engagement and drafting the final transportation safety plan.