Dupage Policy Journal

State Senator Seth Lewis (R-Bartlett) proposed a $1.25 million funding request before the Senate Appropriations Committee for a stoplight improvement in Wheaton on May 8, 2024.

Lewis aims to allocate $1.25 million from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for a grant to the City of Wheaton. The project includes a stoplight and a crosswalk at an intersection identified by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) as a high-risk area due to accidents involving pedestrians.

Lewis stated, "Pedestrians are crossing Roosevelt Road in this area just east of County Farm Road, and it is extremely dangerous. There have been too many pedestrian-vehicle incidents, and we need to take action to ensure safe passage across this stretch of Route 38."

The location near Marian Park Apartments and St. Francis High School has seen three fatalities and over a dozen injuries related to pedestrian crossings. St. Francis High School President Phillip Kerr and Wheaton resident Deborah Suggs testified in favor of the appropriation, emphasizing the urgent need for the stoplight.

Suggs highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, "This is a crisis that has claimed lives and endangered the lives of many others." Kerr pointed out that many students cross the road daily to access parking, emphasizing the necessity of funding for the project.

Lewis expressed satisfaction with the bipartisan support and efforts made to secure funding for the project, stating, "It has been a pleasure to work with the members of DuPage United and other key stakeholders on this vital community improvement."