Batavia residents share concerns with city officials about crosswalk after pedestrians struck

After her son was hit while in the crosswalk at McKee Street and Route 31, Batavia resident Shiloh Remmers is urging city officials to do something to keep pedestrians safer.

Remmers was one of several residents to share their concerns about the crosswalk during the public comment portion of the March 7 Batavia City Council meeting.

“This past Friday my son was struck while trying to cross the crosswalk there,” Remmers said. “We are very lucky that he was not hurt, and that he is still with us.”

She said her son was walking back home from fishing in the river when he reached the crosswalk.

“He could not see the traffic from the inside lane, and that motorist could not see him,” Remmers said.

Batavia resident Lew Girmscheid also expressed his concern about the crosswalk at the meeting.

“We understand that there has been another accident on McKee and 31,” Girmscheid said. “My nephew was hit at the same intersection when he was an early teenager. And my son also survived a car versus pedestrian accident when he was 16 years old.”

The crosswalk had flashing streetlights to warn drivers and pedestrians of the blind spot up until 2018, after the city officials said they only added to the confusion.

“I urge the council to look at options, which it seems like you are, to keep other crosswalks for all of our residents safe,” Girmscheid said.

Aldermen said that only so much can be done on the crosswalk by them, since it’s technically not under city jurisdiction.

“This has been in the City Council’s agenda several times over the last few years,” said Batavia Mayor Jeffery Schielke. “We are not technically in control of that intersection. It’s the Illinois Department of Transportation.”

Batavia Public Works Director Gary Holm said that the city has been working with the Illinois Department of Transportation on improvements to the crosswalk.

“As the mayor said, we have been working with IDOT to try and implement safety improvements. It is there jurisdiction,” Holm said. “I can report to you positively the project has not stalled. Last October the City Council approved a contract with an engineering firm to do an initial feasibility study for a road diet.”

Holm said the “road diet” would reduce road through the intersection to one lane both ways, divided by a center lane meant to provide a safe place for pedestrians.

“As the project was getting started, [we] really began with basic question of ‘would IDOT even consider this idea?’,” he said. “They said that they would, but we would need to demonstrate through traffic studies and analysis that it would work.”

As part of the contract signed in October, the feasibility study would analyze variables such as traffic data and environmental issues through the crosswalk. Holm said that if a certain data criterion is met, then the IDOT will approve a project on the intersection.

“They’re scheduled in mid-March, literally in another week or so, to have the feasibility study finished,” he said. “We have our fingers crossed that IDOT will approve it. It does appear that the road diet concept will work.

“Construction could probably start as soon as 2024. I know that sounds like a long time but that’s just how long these projects take. The city can not just go and do anything out there because it’s not our road.”

Batavia Resident Ed Zofkie questioned the amount of time the project would take.

“I understand that things take time, especially dealing with IDOT and all of those rules and regulations,” Zofkie said. “Why have we not put in a sign directing pedestrians to cross at the light at Wilson? You’re talking about a study that, though no fault of anyone here, won’t possibly see action until 2024.”

“The first time I ever spoke to City Council was also about Batavia Avenue,” said Alderman Abby Beck. “Although it sounds like a really long-time frame, I’m encourage by the movement that we’ve made.”

“There’s no one at fault,” Remmers said. “I just believe that this crosswalk is incredibly unsafe. It’s a known issue.”