Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy Hears...

... that City crews are injecting elm trees to protect against Dutch elm disease. Javier Chavez of the Forestry Department prepared an elm tree on Hawthorne Lane for an infusion of the fungicide Arbortect. Speaking of trees, the digging and such for the repairs on McCormick Boulevard cost us the tree at Bridge and Payne, near the community gardens, which the City said they hoped to save. Wonder what we'll get in replacement - and when - since the City seems to take its time in funding the replacement of trees.

... that the City will be upgrading two traffic signals along Central Street by Ryan Field - the ones at Ashland and the ones at Asbury - at a cost of $380,000.

... that there will soon be a four-way stop at Grant and Pioneer and a three-way stop at Colfax and Pioneer (Colfax is one-way in that area). Speaking of that area, TG hears that a family of raccoons - a mother and three babies - is getting to be at home in that area.

... that Enterprise car rental is coming to the Maple Avenue garage, competing in some areas with the I-Go shared car there.

... that the City might get a new retail shop that sells only wine.

... that a new fast-food restaurant, Pomegranate, is coming to Orrington Avenue just south of Church, and a new sit-down restaurant, Addis Abeba, is open at Chicago/Dempster.

... that a few more places have received permission to have sidewalk cafes: Lou Malnati's, Prairie Joe's and Cosi.

... that Lee between Elmwood and Maple is now "Rev. Hardist E. Lane Way." That's right next to Fisher Memorial AME Church, where Rev. Lane was a long-time pastor until his recent retirement.

... that the City now limits vehicles of four tons or more to five minutes of idling or standing time in any 60-minute period. This will help prevent the air of our fair City from becoming a foul and pestilent conflagration of vapors.

... that the Long-Range Sewer Improvement Program began last week in the northeast part of the City. Through October, crews will be installing a new water main on Orrington from Noyes to Emerson. After that, October through December, they will replace the combined sewer on Orrington from Emerson to Foster. The project, which will continue through next February, also entails excavating three construction shafts, one on Simpson and the other two on Foster, and will tunnel 79-inch-diameter sewers through these tunnels.

Crews will also be installing new gas mains in the area, and they have to switch the service from the present line to the new ones (because the present or "old" one "conflicts" with the sewer project). The crews are asking for cooperation from residents in scheduling appointments with NICOR so as to get the service switched and the project under way.

... that the McCormick construction is really speeding along. Here's what the road looked like on Saturday. The parts of the arboretum that were torn up have been resodded, making a nice green way down to the canal (since the fence there has not been replaced). But anyone biking through the arboretum has to negotiate a big hole at Emerson and cement barriers at Green Bay, where bikers have to hoist bike and baggage over onto the sidewalk to continue. TG suggests taking the Twiggs Park route between Ridge and Green Bay.

... that new teen drivers are going to get a lot more training, now that Governor Rod Blagojevich has signed into law a measure proposed by the Secretary of State and others. The law, House Bill 4768, requires parents to spend 50 hours (used to be 25) with their child in the car, including 10 hours of night driving, before the young person is eligible for an Illinois driver's license. In addition, parents must sign a consent form before the teen may apply for a driver's license. The law takes effect immediately but does not affect teens who already have their permits.

... that NU is going to build a 1,500-space parking garage on the parking lot just west of the Henry Crown Sports Pavilion and Norris Aquatic Center complex on the campus. (Should do wonders for the students who used to have a lake view from their dorm rooms.) They're also contemplating building a parking structure at the Foster-Walker dorm on Maple Avenue at Foster. (Old-timers will remember that this was part of the "land swap" that allowed the City to constuct Church Street Plaza.) Gene Sunshine, University vice-president for business relations, said the University is trying to move parking closer to the edge of campus to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.

... that Streets and Sanitation Equipment Operator Donald Cornelius placed first in the Front End Loader Competition, held May 17 at the Odeum Sports Complex, Villa Park. Mr. Cornelius placed first over 46 front-end loader competitors.

Another City employee, James Kraatz finished in 12th place. Last year, the folks at the City say, Mr. Cornelius placed 12th in the competition and Mr. Kraatz finished fourth.

... that the Democratic Party of Evanston honored folks from NoBurnEvanston at their annual meeting earlier this month. The NoBurnEvanston group led the charge against the incinerator at Evanston Hospital, where medical and other hospital waste was burned. Eventually the incinerator was closed and Governor Rod Blagojevich instituted a statewide ban on medical waste incinerators.

... that at the end of the Fourth of July parade, members of the North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice, along withCodePink Women for Peace, will kick off the "Troops Home Fast" hunger strike for peace.Dickelle Fonda, one of the local organizers, said, "While many Americans will be expressing their patriotism via barbeques and fireworks, we'll be fasting in memory of the dead and wounded, and calling for the troops to come home from Iraq. We're inviting people to join us to show their support for this open-ended fast by fasting for at least one day. We will fastin solidarity with hundreds of others in Washington, D.C., and around the globe who will begin fasting on July 4. Visitthe website or contact Ms. Fonda at 847 491-9748.

From our readers: TG: In the 6/14 issue you wrote regarding Tom Roszak's proposal for downtown that "some folks don't like Mr. Roszak's buildings..." We just moved into his building on 1572 Maple and I was curious what it is that folks don't like (e.g. architecture, construction quality). I enjoy your column. I look forward to hearing back from you. Thanks! -- Les Shindelman

From TG: TG is no architect but has heard comments that the Dempster/Chicago development is quite massive and could have benefited from greater setbacks, a classier type of facing brick and more detail and niceties of design. TG has heard no complaints about your yellow-brick building. Despite the criticism of some of his designs, Mr. Roszak never blessed us with anything like the hulking bottom of the Optima building on Benson and Clark.

TheTraffic Guy Thinks...

... that the City should spring for a "Yield" or "Watch out" sign at the Ashland Avenue spur that comes off Green Bay just north of Noyes. Readers have suggested this before, and TG agrees. It's a real hazard for pedestrians and bike riders to cross Ashland there with cars barreling off Green Bay.

Also, TG would like some advice from some really seasoned bike riders. At the intersection of Davis and Asbury, there are three lanes: one for left turns, one for right turns and one for going straight ahead. If a biker wants to go straight ahead, should he or she just line up behind cars in the center (straight-ahead) lane or sneak around from the left or right lane when the traffic is clear?

... that the new Sherman Avenue garage needs a moniker. TG would suggest "The Tug" because of that battleship it's attached to. Any ideas?

... that the Evanston RoundTable Astros deserve everyone's congratulations for getting first place in the regular season. TG thinks they should challenge the Cubs to a softball game: our team, our turf, our terms.
Send your thoughts and comments to us via email.
We are here to listen.