Hello neighbors, parents & concerned citizens:

We are looking to obtain signatures to improve the traffic flow and ensure the safety of drivers, students and neighborhood surrounding Niles West, specifically in Morton Grove along Menard Ave.

We will be filing a formal request with the Morton Grove Traffic and Safety Commission in September and need to show there is community support for these measures to be implemented.

Drop off and pick up times get very busy and drivers are not stopping to allow kids to cross the street during these busy times, are making illegal u-turns in heavy traffic, pulling into driveways where kids are standing or walking, dropping or picking up students in the middle of the street,  blocking traffic, etc. We need to put measures in place to help reduce the risk of an accident.  

Our recommendation is as follows:

1. Add crosswalks at the intersection of Menard and Warren
2. Include signage to STOP for pedestrians in these crosswalks to allow safe passage for students 
3. Implement No U-Turn signs at the corner of Menard and Warren (for both northbound and southbound traffic)
4. Create a no pickup or drop off zone on Menard between Oakton and Warren. This will help filter stopped traffic away from the light and reduce congestion on the already narrow street during peak times.
5. Add no turnaround signs on the 3 driveways between Oakton & Warren to prevent cars from pulling into driveways that typically have students walking by or standing on. This will also help reduce cars backing up into traffic during peak times.

Please note, while this is an independent petition, I have been in contact with the MG police and Niles West administration and safety officer over the past several years. The police have implemented 2 week traffic safety efforts in this area during the school year, the latest from Spring 2022 resulted in multiple citations and warnings. I've been working in conjunction with them on laying out the above efforts to help mitigate the risk of accident or injury. 

Thank you for your support. If you have questions or would like to help please contact Allison Tesnar - allison.tesnar@gmail.com