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Resident urges lower speed limit on Ridgeland Avenue, warns of danger to pedestrians
Summary
A longtime Tinley Park resident told the board that Ridgeland Avenue carries high speeds through a now-developed residential stretch without sidewalks and asked the village to press Cook County to lower the posted 40 mph limit; village staff said they will coordinate with county officials and the resident left contact information.
At the March 3, 2026 meeting of the Tinley Park Village Board, a lifelong resident asked the board to press Cook County to lower the 40 mph speed limit on Ridgeland Avenue between Oak Forest Avenue and 183rd Street, saying the road has changed from a lightly developed route into a dense residential corridor with no sidewalks.
“I live on 175th in Ridgeland … between 175th and 179th there are over 40 homes … daily five to 6,000 vehicles a day … cars 50–60 miles an hour,” the resident said, adding: “maybe get it lowered 25, 30 before somebody gets hurt or killed, please.” The commenter said children walk to and from school and that Freedom Pond draws pedestrians who must use the roadway shoulder.
Staff replied that a prior traffic study exists but may be a decade old and that a formal request must be made to the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways. Tiffany (staff) said she would research the matter further and asked the resident to leave contact information with Lisa Butler so village staff and the village’s lobbyist, Mike Alvarez, can coordinate with county officials and county leadership (referred to in the meeting as President Prewinkle) to seek action or a new study. Public Works Director John Abansky was cited in the discussion for prior work in nearby subdivisions and to note that some sections south of 175th lack sidewalks because they were formerly unincorporated.
The village did not commit to a specific change in speed limits during the meeting but said it would attempt to arrange a meeting with Cook County staff and the resident to explore options, including whether an updated traffic study is needed. The resident was asked to provide an address, phone number and email so staff can follow up.
