Dupage Policy Journal

City of Oakbrook Terrace City Council met Sept. 5

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

I. CALL TO ORDER 

Mayor Esposito called the September 5, 2024, Special Council Meeting of the City Council to order at 7:00 P.M. 

II. ROLL CALL 

Roll call indicated the following City Council members in attendance: 

Present: Barbari, Beckwith, Fitzgerlad (late), Rada, and Mayor Esposito 

Absent: Vlach 

Also in attendance: City Administrator J. Ritz and Assistant to the City Administrator A. Raffel. 

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

Mayor Esposito led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

IV. DISCUSSION 

Mayor Esposito opened the meeting detailing the purpose of the meeting and the traffic issues on MacArthur Drive, how the city has been addressing them, and provided other options to try and minimize the traffic. The following topics were discussed: 

1. Discussion of Traffic Patterns on MacArthur Drive 

a. Reasons for increased traffic around Oakbrook Terrace: 

i. Increased economic development in the surrounding communities.

ii. Development of overlook on 22nd Street. 

iii. Increased usage of GPS with directional traffic flow.

b. Traffic Studies completed in 2019 and 2023: 

i.  Traffic Counters Results 

1. Hodges Road between Parkview and Monterey - average daily traffic  increased by 8.1%. 

2. Stillwell traffic increased by 6.8%. 

3. MacArthur Drive - Southbound - traffic increased by 9.6% -average speed was 24mph. 

4. MacArthur Drive - Northbound - traffic increased by 8.6% -average  speed was 21mph. 

c. MacArthur Drive Survey: 

i. 78 residents filled out the survey: 

1. 60% stated that there is a traffic issue. 

2.  Make MacArthur Drive as a directional one-way street. 

3.  46% of the residents stated that nothing needs to be done. 

d. MacArthur Drive issues: 

i. High volume of traffic. 

ii. Average speed - 21 mph. 

iii. Stopping at stop signs.

e. Who uses the entrances of MacArthur Drive: 

i. Residents 

ii. Emergency vehicles 

iii. Utilities 

iv. Amazon 

v. Uber/Lyft drivers 

vi. Uber eats 

vii. Grocery deliveries 

viii. Residential construction contractors

f. Directional Traffic Study Proposed: 

i. Provides good traffic directional flow. 

g. Install Blinkersign Pedestrian Crosswalk signals: 

i. Locations are MacArthur Drive and Karban Road. 

h. Work with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to assist with  implementation of traffic calming.

2. Alderman Comments 

a.  Alderman Greco wanted clarification on the directional traffic study but was interested in the results and what would come out of it. He stated that with all the information being gathered that City Council can make more informed decisions. Alderman Greco noted the items that have been discussed to calm traffic on MacArthur Drive. He addressed the resident concerns and the speed of the cars they perceive vs. the data that has been collected. Alderman Greco discussed the intended and unintended consequences of blocking off certain streets. 

b. Alderman Beckwith stated that the City Council takes this issue very seriously. He stated that the City Council has had numerous conversations but understands that action needs to be taken. Alderman Beckwith handed out 2023 traffic data showing significant traffic congestion. To address this, he stated City Council is considering implementing an ordinance that would restrict traffic to "residents only" and giving our police officers the authority to enforce it. 

c. Alderman Rada stated that this topic has been discussed for many years. He noted that the introduction of GPS has increased traffic in and around the community. He noted that we need the directional study to make an informative decision. 

d. Alderman Barbari agrees with other council members and notices the increase in traffic on city streets. 

e. Alderman Fitzgerald commended the residents for showing up, providing great feedback, and being involved in their community.

3. Suggested Traffic Calming Ideas 

a. Ordinance to enforce non-resident cut-through traffic 

i. Introduction of resident stickers 

b. Swing Gate 

i. High cost 

ii. Impact on residents

c. One-Way Traffic 

i. Low cost 

ii. Impact on residents

d. Speed Humps 

i. Low cost

4. Municipal Engineer Vice President Dan Lynch 

a. Traffic counts in 2019 provided a baseline before the overlook was implemented.

b. Traffic counts and speed counts in 2023: 

i. 85th percentile - at or below the speed around 25mph. 

ii. 95th percentile - at or below the speed around 30 mph.

c. Video directional study will give an indication of where the cars are traveling: 

i. 3 day period - Thursday, Friday, and Saturday 

1. Battery capacity - around three (3) days 

ii. Cut through Traffic Study 

1. Butterfield and MacArthur and 22nd St and MacArthur

iii. Additional Streets 

1. Hodges and II. Rte. 83 

d. Working with IDOT for a limited directional median of traffic.

V. PUBLIC COMMENTS 

1. Resident Ivan Solis addressed City Council about traffic concerns on MacArthur Drive and the data from the studies. 

2. Resident Frank Freda, Jr. expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

3. Resident Emily Papaeliou expressed her concerns about the City of Oakbrook Terrace.

4. Resident Don Ventura expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

5. Resident Tim Webster expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

6. Resident Patrica Freda expressed her concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

7. Resident Ave Berkshire expressed her concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

8. Resident Paul Smurawski expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

9. Resident Rick Natalino expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

10. Resident Megan Becker commented on her concerns with traffic on Orchard Place.

11. Resident Yolonda Treiguts expressed her concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

12. Resident Jason Coffman expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

13. Resident Kenneth Kopka expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive and Eisenhower Road. 

14. Resident Christina Pavlak expressed her concerns regarding traffic on residential streets and non-residents cutting through the neighborhood. 

15. Resident Carlos Kellenberger expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive. 

16. Resident Cathy Caldarazzo expressed her concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

17. Resident Chris Schmitt advised everyone to understand the unintended consequences when installing different traffic calming devices. 

18. Resident Thomas Tousek expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

19. Resident Katie Walling expressed her concerns with traffic on Orchard Place. 

20. Resident Bob Shanahan expressed his concerns regarding traffic on MacArthur Drive.

21. Resident Amy Biskup expressed her concerns with traffic changes within the neighborhood. 

22. Resident Sarah Grant expressed her concerns with traffic changes within the neighborhood. 

23. Resident Dave Brown shared his ideas for traffic calming at the entrances on Butterfield Road and 22nd Street.

VI. ADJOURNMENT 

Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Beckwith and seconded by Alderman Greco at 9:20 P.M. 

Acclamation vote was made with all Ayes. 

Motion carried unanimously. 

https://www.oakbrookterrace.net/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_council/meeting/19988/special_city_council_meeting_minutes_-_09-05-2024.pdf