Plan Trims Madison Street Traffic, Adds Bike Lanes

Officials in Oak Park are considering a plan that puts parts of Madison Street on a "road diet," one that would shave traffic lanes from the busy corridor and add bike lanes and wider sidewalks.

The idea, officials say, is to provide an economic shot in the arm for Madison Street, which has suffered an exodus of car dealerships — and their sales tax base — in recent years. A more walkable and pedestrian-friendly Madison Street could lure new businesses while at the same time providing Oak Parkers with a greener, cleaner corridor to use while getting around town. 

That's the vision, anyway. 

There are three current proposals for renovating Madison from Harlem Avenue to Austin Boulevard, a stretch that sees an estimated 18,000 cars a day. The plans range from a major $17 million project, a slightly scaled-back $15 million renovation and a less ambitious $6.9 million makeover. Here's a look at some of the suggestions in the pricier plans, both of which would reduce traffic lanes to two, down from four:

• Harlem Avenue to Home Avenue would see the addition of dozens of planted trees, wider sidewalks, colored crosswalks and modifications that would shorten the distance it takes to cross Madison. Likewise for Madison along Home to Oak Park Avenue, minus the wider sidewalks.

• Home Avenue to Lombard Avenue would see the addition of bike lanes, wider parkways, wider sidewalks, textured and colored crosswalks. A "gateway plaza" would be installed at Oak Park Avenue.

• Lombard Avenue to Austin Boulevard would get a dramatic overhaul. Bike lanes would connect north and south Lombard Avenues, and a stretch of road in front of , 123 Madison St., could occasionally close to traffic and be used as a "civic plaza" for festivals. A "gateway plaza" would be added at Austin Boulevard.

• Again, the $6.9 million option would make some cosmetic improvements to sidewalks and parkways but largely leave traffic lanes untouched.

Records show residents have expressed their concerns for the project including safety issues brought on by the addition of bike lanes, the potential for reduced parking and possible slower travel times for motorists using the corridor.

As for that last concern, urban planner and consultant John Mac Manus told Wednesday Journal earlier this year that "if your idea of Madison Street is to get from Austin to Harlem as quickly as possible, you're not stopping to spend any money in Oak Park. You're not helping local businesses. We've found that slowing down traffic allows people to get to know the streets and retailers and see things they might want."

Many Oak Parkers are praising the plans, particularly when it comes to providing more green space and creating a safer environment for pedestrians crossing Madison.

"I feel like I take my life in my hands whenever I cross to the 7-11 on Scoville or make a turn off Scoville," Nellie Schultz told village officials in an email.

Patti Farlee told officials in an email the plan would be "a dream come true after all these years of excessive property taxes for what is currently an eyesore."

Still, the plan isn't without critics. Many have expressed concerns that more bicycles and pedestrians, even with reduced motor traffic, could spell danger. Others are concerned about potential parking problems and congestion on side streets.

"Please do not only review how the street will look and the options for decorating the crosswalks and green spaces. Spend a bit...on actual assessment and be truthful and honest about what this could do to the neighborhoods that border Madison," Amy Koehl wrote to officials.

Another issue is cost.

To pay for whatever plan could get selected, Oak Park has budgeted $9.3 million for work along Madison Street, according to TribLocal. And officials are also planning to tap into tax increment financing funds from the Madison Street TIF, roughly $7.7 million. Because of 2012 budgeting deadlines, the clock is ticking to commit those funds to the project before the end of the year.

Village Planner Craig Failor said official would also use a recent $575,000 grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to pay for the proposed bike lanes.

Officials are expected to discuss the plans, and possibly commit the TIF funding to the projects, at Monday's Oak Park Village Board meeting. Failor said they'll have more "in-depth conversations" about it in the first quarter of 2012.