We are asking the City of Mount Vernon to take urgent action to reduce excessive speeding on the residential stretch of 42nd Street. Families, children, elderly residents, pets, and drivers of 42nd Street are at risk every day due to reckless driving and a complete lack of traffic calming measures. It's time to act before another life is lost or another home is hit.

We, the residents of Mount Vernon and those who care about the safety of our neighborhoods, call on the City of Mount Vernon, IL, to address the severe traffic safety issues on the residential portion of 42nd Street—particularly between Broadway St and E. Richview Rd, and the northern neighborhoods near Victoria Avenue.

This stretch of 42nd Street is entirely residential, lined with homes, apartments, children, pets, and elderly neighbors. But despite being home to many families, this road lacks any stop signs, speed bumps, police patrols, or radar enforcement. As a result, drivers regularly use it as a high-speed cut-through, often going 10+ miles per hour over the speed limit—day and night.

Over the past few years, this has led to multiple wrecks, including one in which a drunk driver hit a turning vehicle, destroyed a light pole, and crashed into a family’s home—damaging their child’s bedroom. These traumatic events are not isolated incidents. Speeding, engine revving, and reckless driving are daily occurrences on this road.

We are asking the City of Mount Vernon to take immediate action, including but not limited to:

1. Installing a 3-way stop at 42nd Street and Victoria Avenue
2. Adding speed bumps or other traffic calming measures
3. Posting flashing speed limit signs
4. Increasing police patrol and radar enforcement on this stretch of road

This is a preventable crisis. We shouldn’t have to wait until a child, a neighbor, or a pedestrian is killed before action is taken.

We ask our city leaders, including Mayor John Lewis, City Council members, the Mount Vernon Police Department, and the Public Works Department, to respond swiftly and decisively.

Help us make not only our neighborhood safer but also the entire City of Mount Vernon, Illinois—sign and share this petition today.