Batavia Asks IDOT To Take Action After Cyclists Hit On Route 31
BATAVIA, IL — City staff are planning to take action after two bicyclists were hit while crossing Batavia Avenue last week, according to a statement from City Administrator Laura Newman.
Batavia police confirmed to Patch two instances in May when pedestrians or bicyclists were hit on Batavia Avenue, also known as Route 31.
On May 23, a woman on a bike exited Les Arends Forest Preserve to cross Batavia Avenue when a minivan crashed into her, critically injuring her. About a week later, on May 31, a GMC SUV crashed into a teenage boy who was crossing Batavia Avenue while biking west on Union Avenue, Patch reported.
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Newman said staff is “deeply saddened by the tragic accidents.”
“First and foremost, our hearts go out to the families and friends of those injured and who have died,” she wrote in her statement Thursday afternoon.
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As a state road, Batavia Avenue is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Department of Transportation, limiting what Batavia government officials can do to make the road safer, officials said.
The state agency recently accepted the findings of a report that demonstrated a road diet — which consists of either narrowing travel lanes or shoulders, or eliminating some to make room for pedestrians and bicyclists — is feasible on Route 31.
Following the two bicyclist-involved crashes, Newman said staff is planning to request that IDOT expedite their review for the road diet in order to implement it as soon as possible. Until then, the city will renew its requests to IDOT for additional safety measurements.
“The city has received an outpouring of concern from residents, many of whom are angry and frustrated that more had not been done before these accidents occurred to make crossing Rte. 31 safer,” she said.
Residents are encouraged to attend the Committee of the Whole meeting at 7 p.m. June 13, when a status update on the road diet project and potential safety measurements will be discussed.
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