Written by Sharon Lechtenberg

Saving Lives -- We Can Increase Our Children’s Safety Now

Safety Issue 1 Lack of Safety Barriers

Street that dead-end into the railroad need protective barriers placed to protect the public and inhibit trespass of railroad property. Additional barriers need to be placed along railway in residential and commercial areas.
Action being taken: A thorny hedge petition has been approved by Union Pacific. A pilot program will take place beginning with N. Ahrens Avenue once approved at the Lombard Trustee meeting. Funds are being pledged by residents to make this happen as quickly as possible. To make a pledge call Alicia King at 630-889-8616. No actual funds will be accepted until all legalities are confirmed. All funds will be used for purchasing materials, planting and maintaining approved barriers along the Union Pacific Railroad.

Safety Issue 2 Distance Between Railroad Crossings

There are no railroad crossings between Grace Street in Lombard and Addison Road in Villa Park. The distance from crossing to crossing, from St. Charles Rd. to Addison Rd. is 1.43 miles. Children who live in the area petitioned, must walk no less than ½ mile to the nearest railroad crossing, much or all of this distance along St. Charles Rd., to get to schools, school related events and activities, and/or the friends they develop as a result.
Proposal: Redraw school attendance area.
The petition requests that students be served by schools south of the Union Pacific Railroad.

Safety Issue 3 Pedestrian Safety Hazard on St. Charles Road

The northwest corner of St. Charles Rd. and Westmore Ave. is the site of a Citgo Gas station. There are 2 entrance/exit areas on St. Charles Red as well as 1 large entrance/exit area on Westmore. Children trying to walk (legally) along the shortest route to the current school attendance area, must walk east along St. Charles Road to Westmore Ave. thereby encountering traffic turning into and out of the gas station from several directions. Residents in the petition area wishing to cross St. Charles Rd. at a controlled intersection (children are taught to cross a busy street only at a traffic light) must walk to this intersection to access the Great Western Trail and Prairie Path, Parks, Lombard Water Park, shopping, private schools, churches, etc.

Cars can stop or alter their path to avoid an accident, Trains CAN’T