Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy Hears...

... that the police will again participate in the national "Click It or Ticket" campaign to target persons not wearing seat belts. The enforcement mobilization, as the police call it, will run May 21-June 3. Police are particularly concerned that folks don't wear their seat belts at night, that is, between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

... that the City has hired EDAW Inc. of Chicago for master-planning services for the lakefront and corridor reconstruction project master plan. Cost: $206,487. the City also signed a local-agency agreement for federal participation [TG hopes in the form of money or in-kind services] with the Illinois Department of Transportation to "jointly initiate" the corridor reconstruction project.

... that the City has selected Duncan Associates to be the consultant for the new downtown plan. Duncan is to consult on zoning recommendations, conduct a real-estate market study, a parking-utilization study and a pilot study for form-based coding [zoning]. Could be a good deal. Could be paving the way for the tower.

... that there will be water main, sewer and street improvements on Greenwood from Ridge to Oak till about the first week of June. Look for the "no parking" signs, which will be posted 48 hours ahead of time as the digging gets under way. The water main will be replaced and a new relief sewer will be installed. The City says residents can expect a "short interruption" to the water supply during the transfer of service from the old water main to the new one. TG also hears that the City has hired G & L Contractors to haul and dispose of the debris for Water & Sewer and Streets & San.

... Speaking of water, TG hears that the firefighters will continue to test the water in the hydrants around town. Here we have new firefighter Brandon Gatewood, under the supervision of Dave Ellis, testing a hydrant on Ridge Avenue.

... that it will be Public Works Day at the Farmers Market on the first day of the new season, May 19. The City promises demonstrations, games, giveaways and free food from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plus, you can find out everything you'd ever want to know about the City's Public Works Department: parking; street-sweeping schedules; the summer's construction areas. You can take the Water Department taste test and learn about materials sanitation workers will not pick up and why.

The City's Public Works Day almost coincides with Public Works Week, which begins May 20. Rain location for Public Works Day is the Service Center, 2020 Asbury Ave.

... that the police will also be on hand on the first day of the Farmers Market, to register bicycles for free. And staff from the Evanston Public Library will be at the Market on May 19 to educate the public on programs and services. The City plans to feature a different department every weekend at the Farmers Market.

... the the City will give its sister city, Belize City, parking meters that are no longer in use and would otherwise be scrapped. Are we also giving them ticket-writing paraphernalia?

... that for the past couple of weeks, crews have been filming "The Express," a movie about Ernie Davis, the first black football player to win the Heisman trophy. He was drafted into the NFL but died at age 23 from leukemia. Actor Rob Brown plays Mr. Davis; Dennis Quaid is also in the movie, as are Frank Grillo, Evan Jones, Gary Houston, Kris Wolfe and Ned Schmidtke.

... that Secretary of State Jesse White is looking to tighten the laws concerning teen drivers, for example by extending the time before a driver can carry another teen in the car and by making parents responsible for accidents caused by teen drinking.

... that the federal government is also getting into the driving act, considering mandating certain mileage for American-produced cars.

From our readers: TG: I look forward to "The Traffic Guy hears ..." in every issue of the EvanstonRoundTable. I learn the most about what's going on in Evanston from the Traffic Guy. For example ...I had no idea that there was an ordinance mandating "that house numbers appear on garages that face alleys." We're having a new garage built and know now to have that as part of our plans. Thanks, TG! -- Pauline Bentley

From TG: TG is glad to be of service. The RoundTable got the information from a resident who thought that the ordinance had been "selectively enforced" against him, as he was the only one on the block to be fined for the violation, when only about half the houses along the alley had their numbers visible.

The ordinance was part of a package approved by City Council in April 2005, amendments to the international building code. The relevant section is as follows:
SECTION 304 EXTERIOR
STRUCTURE
304.3.1 Alley frontage identification.
Buildings shall have approved
address numbers placed in
a position to be plainly
legible and visible from the
alley when a premises abuts
an alley. Premises shall
have the address placed on
garages when present or on
the principal structure.
These numbers shall
contrast with their background.
Address numbers shall be Arabic
numerals or alphabet letters.
Numbers shall be a minimum of 4
inches (102 mm) high with a
minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch
(12.6 mm).

James Wolinski, director of community development for the City (whose department issues the violations), said the ordinance includes all garages that face an alley.

Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky said the fire department has been working for several years on this. He said he would like to see "enforcement by education" rather than fines (somewhat different from the property standards approach). For emergency personnel, the numerals can be be a matter of life-safety.

... that they're coming!

The Traffic Guy thinks ...

... that is was a bit surprising to see this sign, which seems to have been originally in the Maple Avenue Garage, at the Ewing Avenue end of Perkins Woods last week. Apparently that was a temporary location, as the sign is no longer there.

... that, with all this notoriety about the future of the Civic Center, it's a wonder that it wasn't selected as one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois. Seems the closest we got was the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette, which is indeed majestic.

... that this bumper sticker poses a question for the ages:

Don't forget the Farmers Market, the Young Evanston Artists Festival and the Garden Fair this weekend. These are just the beginning of a great summer.