Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy Hears ...

... that the second series of mobilization campaigns by the City - which lasted from Dec. 17 through New Year's Day - netted the following: 61 citations for seat- belt violations; one arrest for a suspended or revoked driver's license; seven citations for persons not carrying their driver's licenses; 20 citations for uninsured motorists and 26 other citations for traffic violations. Commander Tom Cabanski of the traffic management bureau of the Evanston P. D. reminds drivers, "Driving the posted speed limit and wearing seat belts are a winning combination in the reduction of traffic crashes and injuries."

... that, notwithstanding the above, a heedless or unfortunate driver crashed into  one of the benches on Central Street built in memory of the couple killed crossing the street there. It happened on New Year's Eve, as nearly as TG has been able to ascertain.

... that the fire department would like residents to adopt their local fire hydrants by clearing away snow that either falls around them or gets piled up as the snow plows do their work. Otherwise, the firefighters might have to waste precious minutes shoveling out the hydrants before they can fight a fire. Firefighters need a 3-foot clearance on all sides. The City
advises that anyone shoveling snow around hydrants should be aware of vehicle traffic, not stand in the road and not slip and fall into the roadway.

... that the City's water and sewer division will be rehabbing short segments of the combined sewer lines. You'll probably see the trucks around town (mostly in the middle of the street). Look for changes in traffic patterns along Ridge, where the two middle lanes may be closed between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Address questions to Thomas Jackson, 847-866-2925.

... that the City plans to put a four-way stop at Michigan and Kedzie.

... that the City is getting two new garbage trucks from Cumberland Service Center in Arlington Heights. Cost: $381,340.

... that the City is also looking at outsourcing "parking ticket management and payment-processing functions" to Citation Management (a division of Professional Account Management) for $188,000 per year for three years - not $188 million, as TG wrote about a month ago. TG still  this money go if we all get green and start riding our bikes? Will we charge for bicycle parking as well?

... that - relating somewhat to a letter in last issue's column - the City has approved another $15,000 (for a total "not to exceed $27,000") for supplemental security staff at Mount Trashmore on snow days.

... that City Council appropriated $1.6 million of motor fuel tax funds for the street resurfacing program for next year.

... that, as expected, the developers of the Central Street Theatres would like to have a 13-month extension on the proposed condo development there.

... that the Wingstop restaurant will be opening soon on west Main Street.

... that the City is losing part of its soul: The New Soul Cafe on Simpson recently closed, and Brasilian Soul on Chicago Avenue is closing its doors.

... that Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, in his most recent state of the State address, called for cutting waste in governmental spending and suggested that one way to do it would be to abolish all township assessors.
... that someone has calculated that, through 2007, taxpayers in Evanston will have paid $178.5 million toward the cost of the Iraq War. He or she also said for the same amount of money, 2,917 elementary school teachers could have been provided. Or we could have paid off that pension-fund debt, letting our firefighters and police officers breathe a little easier.

From our readers:
TG: I read with interest the letter and response regarding the Mt. Trashmore guards. I have often wondered what their purpose is. I have to say that Mr. Gaynor's response from the City failed to address the questions posed. So the guards are not City employees, they are from a security company contracted by the City. We are still paying to have multiple guards posted at the base of a hill. And, why would the number of guards be based on the amount of fallen snow? Does that new snow create more hills that need guarding?

Last, I have witnessed the hay-bale "jump" located on one of the smaller hills. I've seen kids launched almost 10 feet into the air by that jump (some while standing on their sleds going downhill) while the "guards" smoke their cigarettes and continue to talk to each other at the base of the big hill. So, the "keep folks from acting recklessly or riskily" reasoning does not apply. The big hill seems to be the cause of most concern. Spend $300 one time and put a chain link fence across the middle of it. Don't spend $240 a day (assuming $10 per hour for three guards for 8 hours) and raise our property taxes (again) to pay for it under the guise of "protecting us from harm."                                      - John Joseph

From TG: Thanks for your suggestions. TG suspects that the reason the number of guards is predicated on the amount of snow is that greater snowfalls bring more people to James Park.

TG: I had meant to write on the subject of the residential parking restrictions (as raised by Mr. Dickerson and Mr. Frett) earlier, but the crush of holidays  (and the search for parking) got in the way.

There is actually a U.S. Supreme Court decision on the subject, County Board of Arlington County v. Richards, which upholds certain parking restrictions against an equal protection challenge. However, the restriction must have a rational basis and under the facts of that case they did. I do not think a restriction which has the effect of forcing people into their cars to drive more (either to a lot farther away or downtown) has that kind of rational basis. I
don't think preserving a personal space in front of your house cuts it. If that were the case, I could designate such a zone in front of my house (and who among us hasn't had that thought as we search for parking?).

Short of a legal challenge to the Evanston restrictions, our City government ought to be able to find a solution. For example, if it is okay to park parallel along the curb at the Central Street train station after 9 a.m. for free, why not just
install meters there and allow earlier parking?

The current system penalizes not just regular commuters, but also the occasional commuter, like me, who works mostly at home, but when the odd trip downtown arises, has no option because getting the pass at the Northwestern University lot is designed for the everyday commuter. Yes, I walk when I can, but a working mother must deal with time constraints.
And on another subject, when will we start fining those who fail to abide by the City ordinance on snow removal from sidewalks after a significant snowfall?

I think this option could be a real financial boon for our City (and more palatable than parking fines, since overstaying a meter in error hurts no one, but the failure to shovel impedes walkers and could lead to injury). I would target businesses first, especially those along the pathway to schools where I have seen kids slogging through ankle-deep snow.
- Gretchen Livingston

TG:  Sign on Central Park just south of Central Street ["Central Ave. Shops"]. Whose idea were these signs? What cost to Evanston taxpayers? Doesn't anyone proofread this stuff? Or did Wilmette shop-owners sneak this one in?

From TG: Well, you are not the only one irritated by these signs. The whole bike route/bike path cost us about a half mil, but the signs are only part of the
cost. In addition to that flagrantly erroneous sign (because it's more than a typo - it's just plain ignorant), the bike route folks did it again: TG has been apprised
of a sign just a few miles east of that one, at Lincoln and Poplar, pointing bicyclers to Wilmette by going north on Poplar.

 

Poplar, as you doubtless know, does not, ends in about three blocks with a barricade at the Wilmette border.

Perhaps the Natty Bumppo of bike routes ought to proofread the routes as well as the signs.

The Traffic Guy thinks ...
... that since the developers of the former Central Street theaters can't make their construction start time and have to grade and seed the site, it would be great if they would sow prairie wild-flowers instead of grass. There are several practical reasons for this, as
well as the one big one, aesthetics.

They are drought-resistant and would not need the upkeep resources - watering, mowing, etc. -  that grass would require. Plus, if the developers can't start until next spring, these plants would overwinter. Then the developers could donate them to a garden club or the ecology center to keep beautifying the City.