While campaigning for mayor several years ago, the most often repeated complaint I received was speeding. The complaint was made in every part of town and in every neighborhood. It was and it still is the most repeated complaint. The second most often repeated complaint is running stop signs. Over the past few years, I have repeatedly pontificated on the ineffectiveness of stop signs.

Something I've learned since becoming mayor: Signs don't work. Stop signs don't work. Speed limit signs don't work. "Slow, Children at Play" signs don't work. "No Parking" signs don't work.

"No Left Turn" at 19th Ave. and Tyler St. doesn't work (still more wrecks than any other intersection in the city caused by drivers turning left).

I've recently discovered another Truism: Drivers don't always do what they are supposed to do. Some speed. Some run stop signs. Some don't yield properly in the red bean-about. Some don't yield properly at crosswalks. Some look at their phones when they should be looking at the road.

What I have found to be effective is speed bumps, speed tables and delineators (white poles). Enforcement also works. In the past couple of years, we have fully staffed our PD department (thanks to the Council and the taxpayers for much needed raises). We now have a traffic division with two officers that focus entirely on issuing citations.

In 2024, our PD issued 2,668 citations. That is more than 2020, 2021 and 2022 combined.

I, along with the Council, are now considering adding a third officer to this division (not an inexpensive undertaking). Two years ago, I stated that it was impossible for two Public Works employees on two boom mowers to properly maintain and mow all the ditches in the city. We purchased a 3rd mower, employed a 3rd driver and today, our roadsides look far better for it.

I now maintain that it is impossible for two traffic officers to properly monitor and patrol the entire city. I know River Forest, for one, could use more presence. Though an expensive undertaking, I am now asking the Council to add a 3rd officer to the Traffic Division.

A couple of years ago, the City acquired a device called a Jaymar Blackcat. Attached to a utility pole, this device records the speed of every vehicle on a street in both directions. Recent data collection on 15th Ave. in River Forest confirmed what we all suspected: There is a speeding problem similar to other parts of the City.

I suspected a problem on Patricia as well, but must admit I was surprised by how ridiculous it was/is. In just two days, we recorded 96 enforceable violations.

On 15th Ave. near Beech, we recorded over 2,300 cars in about 5 days. 3% of those were going 37mph or faster. One driver clocked in at 59 mph.

Patricia Drive recorded 792 cars in 2 days with 12% of drivers going 32mph or faster (48 violations per day). One driver hit 47mph. Paradoxically, lowering a speed limit from 25 to 20 does not mean drivers will slow down. It does, however, mean the number of people speeding will go up.

From this we can surmise that whatever we are doing … it's not working.

The new smaller speed bumps cost about $1,000 each. They are meant to be driven over one tire at a time. Your passenger side tires should remain on the pavement.

By adding additional sections to the middle of the bump, I believe they could be effectively deployed in River Forest.

Both the speed tables and smaller, center-street speed bumps were approved by our first responders (specifically our Fire Department) before installation.

Sometimes the data is so strong, I simply decide what measures to take. Other times, particularly when removing stop signs, it becomes a neighborhood decision.

For example, Jahncke Ave. and Old Landing Road's data was worse than that of River Forest. Councilmen and I met onsite and created a comprehensive plan including a combination of speed bumps, a speed table and removal of a 4 way stop. Residents have shared with me their appreciation for the change. The only complaint came from a driver. Go figure.

The data on South Filmore between 11th Ave. and 15th Ave. was not so strong. However, the sentiment of the residents was. A petition was passed around door-to-door which allows me to consider adding speed bumps a neighborhood decision (not mine unilaterally).

I bore you with all of this to tell you this: The data for Patricia Drive is so strong, I have decided to add two speed bumps between Karen and 15th Ave. In a couple of months, we will collect a new round of data and compare to the control.

The data on 15th Ave. is not as strong. Personally, I believe replacing stop signs with speed mitigation devices is the thing to do, but wished for it to be more of a neighborhood decision.

Last week, I received an e-mail from Shawn Murphy and Nick Vaccaro of the River Forest Civic Association requesting the stop signs be replaced with speed mitigation devices. It is now my plan to do so.

When can we expect the speed bumps to be deployed? The speed bumps are currently on order. Once delivered, Public Works will blend their installation into their schedule. This will likely take a few weeks.

What is "blend into their schedule?" On any given day Public Works maintains a log of about 150 work orders (WOs). Some task is WO number 99. If a tree falls across a street and blocks traffic, that WO becomes WO 1. Hence, number 99 just became number 100. It is a constant and delicate balancing act to properly manage work order priorities.

Why not leave the stop signs? I now suspect somewhere between 2 and 5 per cent of drivers are chronic speeders. They just don't care. As the video linked in the October, 2022 Speed Mitigation E-blasts explains, they drive as fast as they feel safe. I have now concluded that these chronic speeders are also triggered by 4 way stops … often times running the signs or accelerating rapidly upon leaving the intersection. 4 way stop intersections not used for managing traffic flow actually exacerbate the speeding problem. For me, this is one reason why it is important to remove the stop signs when adding bumps. Another reason is I don't want to simply trash up every street in the city with bumps, poles and stop signs.

How expensive is a new traffic patrol officer? Including salary, benefits, healthcare, uniforms, training, retirement, equipment and a patrol car amortized over 5 years, about $100,000 per year … a recurring annual cost.

Doesn't revenue generated by issuing citations cover the cost of a new officer? It certainly can be viewed that the amount collected from violations reduces the amount needed from the taxpayer. However, I abhor the idea of issuing citations as a revenue stream. Citations are issued and fines collected to modify behavior, not as an income source.

Kudos to Public Works street crews who are continuously doing the tedious and never-ending task of cleaning blocked culverts and catch basins. As always, a big thanks to those residents that tend to the culverts and catch basins in their neighborhoods. That would be you, River Forest.

We could not do it without your help.

I returned to the park several times over the next couple of weeks to check out the box. Much to my delight, there were children playing in it every time. As I expected, the toys broke and/or disappeared. Also, as I expected, new toys began arriving ... which brings us to the In Search Of (ISO) Beach Toys: If you have any sand toys your children/grands have outgrown, feel free to donate them to the Bill Smart Sandbox. I promise they will be put to good use : ).

In the last part of the 19th century, River Forest was a dairy farm. Mr. Bradley's farm bordered both sides of the Tchefuncte River. As such, he built a bridge to cross from one side to the other. To recoup his investment of time and resources, he placed a gate with a lock. If you wished to cross his bridge, you paid a toll.

A Mr. Bossier didn't much like this toll-system. So he would shoot the lock off, thereby avoiding the toll and also causing property damage.

A Big Thanks to Clerk of Clerk Archivist Robin Perkins for bringing this story to our attention several years ago. Robin, you're the best!

Replies to this e-mail go directly to Mayor Mark.



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