DuPage County committee to install traffic signal at Great Western Trail crossing of County Farm Road

DuPage County Transportation Committee staff announced that the county will install a coordinated traffic signal at the Great Western Trail crossing of County Farm Road after completing a review against the Federal Highway Administration’s Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) warrants.

Steve, a county transportation staff member, told the committee, “we will be installing a traffic signal at this location.” He said the project will use the county’s existing electrical maintenance contract for portions of the work, but that obtaining power from Commonwealth Edison and ordering control equipment are likely to be the longest lead items. Staff estimated the work would be completed by the end of the calendar year.

The committee heard public comment from Stanley Kurchmarczyk of Friends of the Great Western Trails, who urged traffic control upgrades at the crossing and noted that advocacy organizations such as Ride Illinois and the Active Transportation Alliance recommend a pedestrian-activated stoplight. Kurchmarczyk framed the request by comparing a nearby Kane County installation and said he supports DuPage County Board member Greg Schwarze’s proposal for a traffic signal.

Committee members asked whether the crossing would function as a conventional signal for County Farm Road and whether pedestrians would have dedicated phases. Staff confirmed it will be a standard traffic signal for vehicles and that the crosswalk will have pedestrian "walk/don't walk" indications that are pedestrian-actuated (the pedestrian phase will only be called when someone requests to cross). Staff added the new signal will be coordinated with Saint Charles Road and North Avenue to reduce the risk of queuing on County Farm Road.

The announcement followed staff’s description of prior mitigations at the location, including construction of a refuge island. Members praised staff for responding to constituent requests and recommended the county publicize the planned installation; staff said the county will post the update on social media and coordinate communications with maintenance crews.

The committee did not record a detailed vote tally on the announcement; the item was presented as an informational update and no separate contract award was posted at the meeting. The next procedural steps are equipment procurement and coordination with Commonwealth Edison to secure power service to the signal site.