Consultants tell Hinsdale board downtown transportation "operates well," propose phased safety upgrades
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Summary
KLOA presented a downtown traffic and pedestrian safety study concluding Hinsdale's downtown operates at good levels of service but offered phased recommendations — signage/enforcement, pavement markings, and later construction such as curb extensions and corner-radius changes — to improve pedestrian visibility and calm traffic.
KLOA traffic engineering consultants told the Hinsdale Village Board on Feb. 17 that the village's downtown transportation system generally operates well but could be made safer and more pedestrian-friendly through a phased program of low-cost and longer-term measures.
Michael Worthman, a principal with consulting firm KLOA, said field investigations, intersection and roadway counts, crash-data review and public engagement showed low traffic volumes, good intersection levels of service and relatively few pedestrian or bicycle crashes. The firm conducted vehicle, pedestrian and bicycle counts at 15 intersections and daily traffic counts at six road segments, with most data collected in May 2025.
The study recommends a five-phase approach. Phase 1 emphasizes enforcement and signage: continue speed enforcement, increase enforcement of short-term parking limits, step up citations or warnings for e-bikes and scooters that violate local or state rules, and improve visibility for the 20 mph speed limit using yellow-green borders and additional signs on approaches where they are missing. Phase 2 focuses on education and pavement-marking changes that can be implemented quickly and at low cost, including replacing standard two-stripe crosswalks with high-visibility ladder ("piano-key") markings and installing certain in-street pedestrian crossing signs.
Longer-term recommendations include curb extensions and mid-block curb treatments on 1st Street to reduce crossing distances and widen sidewalks where outdoor dining occurs; removal or reconfiguration of channelized right-turn islands at several intersections (for example, near the post office and the Garfield/Chicago intersection) to reduce corner radii and slow turning vehicles; and targeted modifications to crossings near the train station to improve accessibility for visually impaired pedestrians.
Worthman said the recommendations are intended to be phased so the low-cost items can be implemented quickly while planning proceeds for construction elements that require capital budgeting and coordination. The Public Safety and Transportation Commission reviewed and recommended the study at its Feb. 4 meeting.
Trustees asked about specific tradeoffs at the high-volume intersection near the post office and train station, nighttime/valet-related conditions and whether removing a mid-block crosswalk would simply shift crossings to riskier locations. Worthman said counts targeted the PM peak when train-related pedestrian activity is highest and that additional targeted reviews (lighting checks or intersection studies) could address evening or valet-related dynamics.
The board agreed to circulate the proposed signage and striping list to trustees and staff as a first step toward implementation.
