Hinsdale approves neighborhood traffic study for Monroe school area; trustees debate timing for observations

Trustees approved a professional services contract for the second neighborhood traffic and pedestrian safety study (Zone 2) focused on Monroe Elementary, with staff noting the phase would recommend safety improvements, traffic-calming measures and enforcement enhancements.

The board discussed timing and scope. Several trustees and the police chief recommended scheduling the primary traffic observations in September 2026, when school-year travel patterns and evening activities would better reflect typical conditions, rather than immediate May observations before school lets out. Staff agreed to coordinate timing with the consultant and to confirm whether the contract scope should include off-site parking and potential school-district cooperation for on-campus circulation recommendations.

Trustees also asked whether lessons from this zone might be applied to other schools and whether the consultant should perform a quick site review of all school locations to identify priorities for deeper study. Staff said the scope and fee for subsequent zones could be adjusted based on findings from Zone 2.

The vote to award the contract moved the study forward; staff will confirm observation windows with the consultant and return with refined timing and scope details to align data collection with the school calendar.