Crystal Lake Avenue to Get Barrier Median Despite Residents' Objections

A permanent barrier median will be installed on Crystal Lake Avenue near East Street and the Metra railroad tracks in Crystal Lake- much to the dismay of several residents living in that area.

The Crystal Lake City Council on Tuesday night approved by a majority vote an ordinance prohibiting left turns from East Street onto Crystal Lake Avenue, and banning left turns from eastbound traffic on Crystal Lake Avenue onto East Street.

Council members Ellen Brady Mueller, Cathy Ferguson and Jeffery Thorsen voted against banning the left turns from East onto Crystal Lake Avenue.

However, the council's vote was nearly a formality because the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois Commerce Commission, after considering proposed alternative solutions, determined a 
median must be installed.

If the city does not construct the barrier, Crystal Lake could risk losing the federal funds it received as part of the overall road improvement project at Crystal Lake Avenue, according to city officials.

IDOT and ICC have recommended Crystal Lake install a 150-foot-long, 3-foot-wide and 9-inch tall median due to East Street's 50-foot proximity to the Union Pacific railroad crossing.

To make the median more visible to motorists, 3-foot-tall flexible posts will be installed atop it, according to city plans.

The state agencies want to prevent motorists from "queuing" or stopping on the railroad tracks while waiting to turn onto East Street.

Jim Tomasello, who lives at the corner of East Street and Crystal Lake Avenue, asked city officials at Tuesday night's meeting not to move forward with the barrier.

"There's no reason we can't send this back to IDOT and say the community is not happy with it," Tomasello said.

Erik Morimoto, director of engineering and building for the city, said staffers already proposed several alternatives - some of which were suggested by the residents themselves - all of which were rejected by IDOT. It's unlikely IDOT engineers would change their stance on the matter, he said.

Mayor Aaron Shepley noted the city went to great lengths to appease residents' concerns over the project.

"I believe the city staff has bent over backwards to collect data, present options...and I understand the residents aren't satisfied," Shepley said. "....the fact is people (IDOT engineers) who do this for a living are telling us we need to do this to meet their standards."

Shepley pointed out that in November 2012, city staffers requested IDOT and ICC consider six proposed alternatives for the intersection.

In December, residents met with IDOT, ICC and city staff members on the matter. Since then, correspondences detailing revised plans have been sent back and forth between the agencies and the city.

But, despite all that work, both agencies continued to insist the barrier be built, he said.