The city of Chicago is taking steps to address the long-standing issue of traffic congestion and stopped trains near the Edgebrook Metra Station. The Department of Transportation held a meeting with local residents to gather input on potential solutions to improve the Devon-Caldwell-Central-Lehigh intersection cluster.

Possible Solutions

Among the possible solutions being considered are an overpass to lift the rail line over the roads or an underpass to move the rail line below ground. Smaller-scale solutions, such as adding bike lanes or adjusting the intersection’s traffic lights, are also being explored.

According to Department of Transportation Planning Team Lead Lindsey Frey, the implementation process could be lengthy, with some solutions taking up to 10 years or more to complete. The city plans to apply for federal funds to pay for the project.

Local residents, including Don Marchman and Sandra Laase, expressed their concerns about the current state of the intersection and the impact it has on the community. Marchman suggested moving the Edgebrook Metra Station a few hundred feet away from Devon Avenue as a potential solution.

The city has been looking into the area around the Edgebrook Metra Station for several years, with a previous study identifying the intersection cluster as one of the most complex in the city. Over the past five years, there have been 499 reported crashes in the area.

Aldermen Jim Gardiner and Samantha Nugent, whose wards border the area, attended the meeting and emphasized the need for meaningful change. The city will use the input gathered from the meeting to develop a range of potential options and will present the information at a second community meeting this fall.

Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.