Traffic measuring on Montgomery Road

[EagleDad]

As I left this morning, I noticed that there is a new traffic measuring device (the kind with two hoses that span the road that IDOT typically uses) between the first and second entrances to White Eagle on Montgomery Road.

I wonder if there is already something underway in regard to improving Mongomery or adding a stoplight at Commons for the new school?

[voteyes]

that would be great if they are putting in lights there already. there are so many young drivers in our neighborhood and a left turn on to montgomery can be very difficult.

[strongyes]

eagledad said:

As I left this morning, I noticed that there is a new traffic measuring device (the kind with two hoses that span the road that IDOT typically uses) between the first and second entrances to White Eagle on Montgomery Road.

I wonder if there is already something underway in regard to improving Mongomery or adding a stoplight at Commons for the new school?

When Bruce G was preseting at Crone I asked if Commons Dr would be extended down to Montgomery, and he said it would. A school needs a certain number of acess routes.

[Avenging Eagle]

Yes, they are putting in a crosswalk at the Commons-Montgomery intersection also.

Hundreds of houses in White Eagle will be classified "walkers" to the new school.

My house is about .7 miles walking distance to the new high school site.

[204group]

Does the city pay for Commons Drive to be extended down to Montgomery or the School District?

[EagleDad]

This was asked at the White Eagle Referendum information meeting. IIRC, the answer was that the city/state pays for these improvements, not the SD. They (the SD) have to make the case for the improvements (light, crosswalk) to the city council like everyone else.

[proschool]

204group said:

Does the city pay for Commons Drive to be extended down to Montgomery or the School District?

I do know that when Chicory Place was built the early 90's the developer paid for the portion of Commons drive that runs along side of Chicory Place (perhaps it was just 1/2 since they only run along one side). That portion was not built because it didn't lead anywhere and it still has not been built. The developer paid the money to the city of Aurora and the city kept it. Now it is the cities responsibility to pay for it. The developers of Thatcher's Grove/ Blackstone paid for its portion when that neighborhood was developed and the same thing went for Stonehaven.

I don't know who will pay for the little bit of Commons next to the land the school district owns already. I thought I read that that was part of the site improvements. I believe that the school district may have to pay to improve the portion of Commons Drive that has already been built south of 75th and North of 79thish.

I remember someone telling me that the city of Aurora may front the money to develop Commons between Ogden and 75th Street. When that land is finally developed the city will bill the developer.

I am not an expert on this. It's just how I understand it. Perhaps someone else can verify this or correct me.
.

[aldermankeith]

The traffic monitoring on Montgomery Road was completed because of the anticipated changes that may come in the very near future. Of course one of them is the construction of the new high school but we also wanted to see what the counts were to justify a traffic light at Commons and Montgomery, and to make sure the city had the classificiation of the road correct. Montgomery is a highly traveled road with an average daily traffic count of 17,000 cars. The Summit Development Group will be breaking ground on a new Life Style retail center in the triangular piece of property between Ogden and 75th St. They will be required to connect Commons from Ogden to 75th St with a new traffic light going in at 75th St. I spoke with City Staff last week about the remaining portion of Commons and learned that it will be developed when the church develops the last piece of property adjacent to the anticipated road route. It is my understanding that Commons Drive will not be a route used by the children that attend the new high school. The teachers and school buses will use Commons Drive to enter their designated parking areas but the student parking lot will not have access onto Commons.

[EagleDad]

Thanks for all of that info Alderman Keith, and welcome to this board. It's good to know that you're so involved.

Montgomery is getting more and more jammed every morning (and on the weekends). I don't know if the light timing on 59 is off or what, but many days, I see it backing up past commons (the first white eagle entrance). Combine this with the fact that there's a quasi left-turn lane, and cars often "make a break for it" trying to scoot through in that area. I hope this gets worked out before the new school opens because I think it's starting to get dangerous. Adding walking kids into the mix will make it serious.

Also, FYI Calvary has become a major cut-through for cars turning left on 59. Rather than wait through 4 or 5 lights (who can blame them), a stream of cars goes through Calvary and then out onto 59.

In looking at a light on Montgomery/Commons, I think the state should also do the research about whether Mongomery should be widened. Cleary there is space, and it is coming someday. I'd hate to have them invest a lot and have to re-do it later. Also, having some form of either shoulder, or curb on it would be good, as it might stop the kiddies from careening off

[chicoryowl]

-"a traffic light at Commons and Montgomery"
-"They will be required to connect Commons from Ogden to 75th St with a new traffic light going in at 75th St."

Wow. I consider this very good news for me. I avoid making a left onto Montgomery coming out of Chicory because of the volume of traffic. Also, I will often make a left on 75th from Commons or Meadowridge to get out to Ogden. A light should make things considerably safer (if not always quicker).

Also, I agree with EagleDad above with how busy Montgomery can get at 59. I avoid that corner because of how busy and backed up it can get. I've driven past it in the mornings during the week and it's easily backed up to the white eagle entrance.

[proschool]

It is my understanding that Commons Drive will not be a route used by the children that attend the new high school. The teachers and school buses will use Commons Drive to enter their designated parking areas but the student parking lot will not have access onto Commons.

Welcome aboard Aldermankeith. I am glad to see you here.

You bring up a point that concerns me.

I think that the city's suggestion to keep the student parking away from Commons Drive had good intentions but overall it is a bad idea.

When I attended the school board meeting where the plans were unveiled the architects said that the city was putting the pressure on to keep the student parking away from Commons Drive.

I don't understand the logic of diverting students traffic from Commons to Route 59. That just seems dangerous to me. Any students driving to school from White Eagle will be safer to cut through Commons Drive anyway. The placement of student parking on 75th adds two unnecessary turns on 75th Street which is a very busy street on what will be a very busy time of day.

The students parking also creates an unnecessary turn onto 75th Street for students accessing the school from Ogden Avenue via the north extension of Commons drive.

If I lived in the Fry attendance area I would consider encouraging my kid to avoid Route 59 as well.

Why do you think that the teachers will use Commons Drive? Commons will provide easy access from White Eagle to the parking lot on Commons but I doubt if very many of the teachers will live in White Eagle. Most of the staff will be using Route 59 and/or 75th Street anyway because they will be coming from all over the place.


I hope that you take some action to have the city reiew its recommendation more carefully.

[aldermankeith]

I will ask that the light at Rt 59 and Montgomery be looked at. I am not sure that timing is the issue and may be more about the length of the green light and the available turn lanes. A complete reconstruction of Montgomery Road has been discussed based on the traffic counts. The right of way is available so that would not be a problem. The problem is money. A total road reconstruction to include curb and gutter would cost millions. The most I can do at this point is to get the project on our Capital Improvement Plan. The completion of the 95th St extension from 248th St over to Rt 30 will help relieve some of the traffic from Montgomery Road but that project is still a couple of years out.

I do understand the concerns expressed by Proschool and I am always open to comments and a better way of doing things. The idea to separate the bus routes and the student drivers is a good idea. The fact that there will be less traffic in the area of school bus loading and unloading is itself a much safer situation. The teachers will already be in school or will leave after the buses have loaded and the kids are gone. The student parking will also serve as general public parking for school events. With the athletic fields being on the east end of the school, it makes sense to have that parking closer to the fields. 75th St. and Rt 59 are much more suited to handle the short burst of traffic congestion at peak periods than Commons Dr and Montgomery Road are. The City of Aurora employs an educated, trained and experienced Traffic Engineer. I am meeting with him tomorrow to discuss another issue. I will bring this one up. If anyone would like to personally discuss this issue please feel free to contact me at my home office number of 375-9375. If I am not at home, leave me a message and I will be more than happy to call you back.