Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy Hears...

... that construction season continues. The sewer rehab project on Elmwood from Lake to Main and on Custer Avenue from Washington to Howard (with areas of Main, Sherman and Washington in between) will continue throughout October. If your section has not already begun, here's the tentative schedule: Elmwood from Lake to Dempster begins Oct. 9; Custer from Mulford to Howard begins Oct. 23; and Washington from Custer to Chicago and Chicago from Main to Washington begins Oct. 30. Remember, this project replaces 100-year-old pipes. But wait - there's more. Until Nov. 10 sewer work continues on Sheridan between Juneway Terrace and Keeney, with traffic one lane in each direction. Call Chris Johnson from Insituform Technologies, 630- 257-2200.

... that Perry Park, Smith Park and Megowan Park will be renovated soon.

... that the City is leasing the former Permalawn site at Green Bay and Noyes/Ashland from the Water Reclamation District. It's 2.1 acres, and TG thought it would be a great place for Silver Wings - better than the Arboretum, because the open space there would really show it off.

... that the City is vacating the alley north of Colfax and east of Sherman to make way for the new homes at the former Kendall property.

... that that was some storm at the equinox, Sept. 22.. Our photographer Laura Rust took this picture of the hail coming down. And local resident Mary Mumbrue gathered these hailstones. Folks who have lived here for decades said they had never seen clouds like the ones that raced through here - nor an eerie storm like that. Are storms really more violent at the equinox - or does that one go in the "eggs balance only at the equinox" file of nice but untrue stories?

And here is more hail from Monday night's storm. While the hailstones weren't as large as the previous week's, the storm certainly lasted longer.

... that this cab missed its mark, ending up literally at the house near Maple and Greenwood.

From our readers:
TG: Great column.55 megabucks is way too much for a bike path upgrade.Who is bidding this job? Also, who ran the street department during the asphalt scandal?- Old Fogey

From TG: City Council approves bids submitted through the various departments. TG is not aware of an asphalt scandal but is keenly aware of potholes.

TG: Who is responsible for paving alleys or applying gravel to themin Evanston? The alley between Main and Washington between Asbury and Wesley is especially treacherous. I dare you to check it out. Thanks for your reply.- Kevin Tunnant

From TG: TG has forwarded your question to the City's public works department.

TG: What's with the utility poles on every corner on Ridge Avenue? Very ugly, not very straight. Can't we eventually get around to underground cables? What's the story? -- Diane Kessler

From TG: The cables along McCormick will be buried as part of the reconstruction there. It can be done, of course, at a cost, and wouldn't it be great if the City could sometime afford that? TG has heard that at least one utility company will bury cables on private property - at the owner's cost.

TG: Five questions: 1. You wrote several weeks ago you'd find out what is up with the Destafano condo development on Maple Avene near Greenwood. Any updates?Ifind it a bit disturbing that they insist on havinghuge banners for their company on the site, without any work to show during the long time that they'vebeen "planning" to build. They should remove their logos from the site until they start to do actual work.
2. Wild Oats' staff tells the story that Whole Foods has said it will move from Evanston if Trader Joe's comes to town. Is it true? Why would we care (since competition is what our system is based upon and, in fact, Trader Joe's tends to be far cheaper)? And are we any closer to luring Trader Joe's to any of the locations that are screaming out for their presence?
3. Has anyone figured out who is moving into the building that Khaki used to occupy?
4. As Evanston's streets continue to be re-paved around town, has there been any discussion of drawing white lines like Wilmette Ave has,where biking/parking space is clearly marked? It seems to invite greater clarity for all travelers as to where bicyclists are to be expected and (for some of us) welcomed.
5. I see the construction workers protesting at the site where the maroon brick structure is being built for re-use as condos on Ridge just south of Green Bay. What are their issues?-- Gregg Baker

From TG: You must think TG has swallowed an Evanston encyclopedia, to have all that information at hand. However, TG has nothing concrete to report about Trader Joe's, the DeStefano project or the former Khaki building. TG has referred these questions and your white-line question to the City and will let you know.

TG: [Re the cityofevanston.com website]: The registrant is Mark Van Bork on Sherman Avenue; the website was created in December of 1999 and was last updated in December of 2005; the domain expires this December.

Might make an amusing article about why the website is only a misdirection to an e-mail gathering form.- Vic Radin

TG: [after reporting similar information on the website] There is a UPS Store at the above address, so it is possible that Mr. Van Bork, if that is indeed his name, has rented a mailbox there. -- Ken Sax

From TG: Thanks to you both, Mr. Radin and Mr. Sax. TG still wonders what the point of the website is, and, as another reader wrote in: "Wonder why he still lives here if he feels that way."

The Traffic Guy thinks ...
... that Maple Avenue garage is becoming like a carousel. The operators of the Maple Avenue garage need to figure out how to direct traffic to upper parking levels instead of confining them to go around and around on the second floor. Tempers were flaring on Saturday morning when lines of cars kept circling around the second floor, ready to pounce whenever someone vacated a parking spot. Meanwhile, the third floor of the garage was almost empty.

... that everyone should go out and enjoy Arts Week Evanston. If they keep extending it, maybe they could call it Arts Fortnight.

... that people going down to the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Ind., should take a detour along Indiana Route 63, known temporarily as Giraffic Parkway. The folks in Vermillion County have giraffes painted by local artists adorning their tiny towns - all in support of their youth.

The slogan for the giraffes is "Standing Tall for the Next Generation." Here's a pic of the giraffe from the publisher's home town, commemorating Pulitzer Prize winner Ernie Pyle, a World War II correspondent. The giraffe is PFC "Aggie" Pyle. Pretty cool.

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