Villa Park is stepping up its safety efforts along the railroad tracks that run through town after the recent death of a 14-year-old Lombard girl.
Village President Joyce Stupegia and village employees inspected thousands of feet of railroad right-of-way to uncover safety hazards.
The found several holes in fencing as well as some sections in disrepair. Some areas lacked any safety barriers, Stupegia said. The holes were repaired within a day and the village is soliciting bids for fencing that could be erected in areas where it’s lacking, she said.
Stupegia also is organizing a second public safety advisory committee focused on railroad safety.
"We’ve been right on it," she said.
She aims to enlist local and county elected officials, police and fire representatives, community members and more to help come up with ideas for increasing safety. Meeting dates will be set soon.
These latest initiatives come after Kristen Bowen was killed while crossing the tracks from Ahrens Avenue in Lombard to North Terrace Park in Villa Park shortly before 8 p.m. Feb. 11.
Authorities believe the Willowbrook High School freshman saw one train and waited for it to pass but didn’t realize another was coming from the opposite direction.
Her father, Ray Zukowski, said the village’s effort sounds "like a start."
"I’m pleased to hear they acting on it in a prompt manner," he said. "That puts a smile on my face. Hopefully they can get something situated real soon."
The village and Villa Park based Elementary District 45 have been trying to prevent tragedies along the tracks.
Villa Park police officers visit schools adjacent to the tracks each fall to educate student about train safety. They also regularly patrol areas along the tracks, including two recent enforcement days at the Metra station during which nine people were ticketed for disobeying warning devices.
District 45 also started bus service for Jefferson Middle School students who live south of the tracks after the death of Alyssa Gonzalez two years ago. Gonzalez was on her way to Jefferson, which is just north of the tracks, when she was struck and killed.
Villa Park is not the only community struggling with dangers along railroad tracks. Wheaton has been working toward building a $3.8 million pedestrian overpass near Monroe Middle School since the death of student Lori Most in August 1993.
Lori, who was 12 at the time, was cutting across the tracks on her way home from school when she was struck by a commuter train.
After years of negotiating agreements between several agencies and struggling to come up with funds, the Wheaton Park District expects to start construction on a pedestrian overpass this summer.
Reprinted with permission from the Daily Herald