Residents urge action on speeding and unsafe drop-offs near private school; trustees say they will follow up

Dozens of Lisle residents pressed the Village Board on May 18 over traffic and safety problems they say have worsened since a private school moved into the former Tate Woods site, describing frequent speeding, drivers rolling stop signs, sidewalk-blocking and confrontations with parents during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.

"We have to walk in the middle of the street so that the kids will not get swiped by the speeding cars," said a resident who identified her address. Several neighbors said they have repeatedly reported problems to the school and police with little lasting improvement and asked the village to consider changes such as restoring a one-way block to two-way traffic, adding four-way stops, installing speed feedback signs or deploying longer-term enforcement.

Mayor Mary Joe Mullen and trustees acknowledged the concerns and said village staff and police will follow up. "We've been briefing this and we'll continue to do so," Mullen said, adding that staff will look into feasible remedies. Village Manager Cook outlined the consent agenda and noted staff had been asked to pursue follow-up where appropriate.

Residents described multiple near-misses involving school buses and estimated that more than 30 children use bus stops along the corridor, which residents say lack consistent sidewalks. "I have taken pictures of license plates; nothing is changing," one neighbor said, urging the village to pursue physical changes and enforcement.

Trustee discussion noted the original Tate Woods approval included different traffic assumptions, including school bus service, and trustees asked staff to confirm whether the new school's operations deviate from prior traffic studies. Trustee comments also signaled openness to engineering fixes such as speed tables or targeted curb and sidewalk work, and to working with the school to improve drop-off patterns.

The board did not adopt a specific remedy at the meeting but approved next steps: staff will follow up with the residents, the police and the school to compile data and to return to the board with options for engineering and enforcement.

The public comment period on neighborhood traffic preceded the board's consent agenda and other regular business. The board adjourned after completing the full agenda.