Traffic study: Weldbridge/Taylor/Main intersection may fail during school drop‑off at new Cottage Grove elementary

Village engineering and Strand Associates presented a traffic‑impact analysis for the Manor Grove/Cottage Grove Elementary site at the June 10, 2026 meeting. The TIA focused on peak school arrival and dismissal and identified the Weldbridge/Taylor/Main Street intersection as a potential level‑of‑service failure during school hours under the proposed right‑in/right‑out configuration for the school access.

Staff and the consultant noted that TIAs include assumptions about modes (walking, bussing, parent drop‑off) and that exact operations will depend on how families use the site. The study shows increased queuing at Weldbridge during peak times and warned that lower level‑of‑service can raise accident risk as drivers take riskier maneuvers to enter traffic.

As near‑term mitigation, staff and Strand recommended monitoring how school drop‑off and pick‑up operate once school opens and deploying police officers to direct traffic during initial peak periods if required. Longer‑term options noted in the discussion include operational adjustments or geometric changes if monitoring shows persistent queuing or safety risks. Staff said they would coordinate with the school district and the police chief on implementation and monitoring.

Next steps: staff will observe traffic flow at opening, coordinate with the police chief on potential peak‑time enforcement or direction, and report back to the committee with observations and recommendations.