Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan

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Network Recommendations

Elmhurst residents give input at an outreach event

Through a robust community engagement process, the City of Elmhurst has identified a proposed network of streets and intersections targeted for pedestrian and bicycle improvements and is now seeking feedback from residents on the proposed improvements.

The below maps, images, and text provide a summary of the recommendations. Scroll down to learn more about the proposed improvements, about the different types of improvements recommended, and to provide comments and feedback on the recommendations.

Visit the project website to learn more.


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NETWORK RECOMMENDATIONS WITH MULTIPLE OPTIONS

Some streets will require further study to determine the most appropriate recommendation. Below, we outline those streets and the potential alternatives.

Network Recommendations with Multiple Options

1) SPRING ROAD

(from the Prairie Path to Vallette St)

  • Option 1: Bike Lanes
  • Option 2: Marked Shared Lanes

Spring Rd between the Prairie Path and Vallette St is a commercial corridor with future plans to become a more vibrant, pedestrian and bicycle friendly destination. Due to this area's future goals, a bike lane would be ideal. However, given the roadway's width, installing bike lanes on both sides would require the elimination of parking on one side of the street. Though this would also allow room for a buffered bike lane on the parking lane side reducing potential conflicts with the opening of car doors. The other option of marked shared lanes would preserve parking, but provide a less comfortable bikeway. 

Local Example

The below graphic depicts how the roadway on Spring Road from the Prairie Path to Vallette St may look with the inclusion of either options listed above:


2) SPRING ROAD

(from the McKinley Ave to Butterfield Rd)

  • Option 1: Advisory Bike Lanes
  • Option 2: Marked Shared Lanes

Spring Rd was identified as a bike priority street in the community engagement process. Because it has moderate car traffic, advisory bike lanes would be ideal. But it currently is not wide enough for bike lanes and parking lanes. Installing advisory bike lanes would require the elimination of parking on one side of the street, whereas marked shared lanes would preserve parking, but provide a less comfortable bikeway. 

Local Example

The below graphic depicts how the roadway on Spring Road from the McKinley Ave to Butterfield Rd may look with the inclusion of either options listed above:


3) YORK STREET

(from Van Buren St to Butterfield Rd)

  • Option 1: Sidepath (west side) and northbound Buffered Bike Lane
  • Option 2: Sidepath Only (west side)

York St has high, faster moving car traffic. It is not currently suitable for biking. The most comfortable bike facility would be a sidepath, but there is limited space to create one and connecting it to an on-street bike lane north of Van Buren would be difficult. An alternate solution is to create an on-street bike lane, which would be less comfortable for cyclists along the corridor, but would reduce the uncomfortable transition at Van Buren.

Local Example

The below graphic depicts how the roadway on York St from Van Buren St to Butterfield Rd may look with the inclusion of either options listed above:


4) YORK STREET

(from Meister Ave to Van Buren St)

  • Option 1: Bike Lanes (with Road Diet)
  • Option 2: Advisory Bike Lanes (with Road Diet)

As mentioned above, York St has high, faster moving car traffic. Given the tighter roadway width in this section of York, conventional bike lanes would provide a more comfortable facility for bicyclists since they provide more room in the lane and are accompanied by a solid white stripe to demarcate the bike lane from traffic. An alternate solution is to implement advisory bike lanes to ensure that all travel lanes can accommodate the variety of vehicles operating on this segment of York. However, advisory bike lanes would be less comfortable for cyclists along the corridor.

Local Example

The below graphic depicts how the roadway on York St from Meister Ave to Van Buren St may look with the inclusion of either options listed above:


INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS

Map of the Identified Intersection Improvements

The following section presents the top challenging intersections across the City of Elmhurst as identified during community engagement and existing conditions analysis. Some of these intersections can be improved in conjunction with the bike network recommendations that were detailed in the above section. This exhibit identifies intersection types and potential design solutions.


INTERSECTION TOOLKIT

The images below show the potential tools Elmhurst could use to improve crossings and are utilized in the renderings of proposed intersection improvements. These tools should be considered as the active transportation network is constructed. In many cases, additional study and approval will be needed to implement any of the recommendations.


PROPOSED INTERSECTION RENDERINGS


Wayfinding Signage

A comprehensive bicycle wayfinding signage network helps cyclists navigate to key destinations along preferred bicycle routes. When placed on street, they remind drivers to look out for cyclists and help cyclists stick to designated routes. There are three primary types of wayfinding signs: decision signs, turn signs, and confirmation signs.

Decision Signs

These signs are placed at the junction of multiple destinations. Signage should provide distance, destination, and direction information.

Turn Signs

These signs show where a bike route turns from a one street or trail to the next. These signs may be labeled with destination names and directional arrows. 

Confirmation Signs

These signs signal to cyclists that they are on the correct street, path, or route to reach their destination. 


Survey

We would like to invite you to participate in a survey to share your thoughts on the proposed designs and overall network you reviewed on this webpage. The survey can be filled out directly below and should take around 15-20 minutes to complete.

Elmhurst Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Survey

Elmhurst residents give input at an outreach event