ALTERNATIVE TO TURN LANES
I have lived and owned property on MacArthur Boulevard for over 40 years. I am very familiar with the controversies surrounding the intersection in question ("Heavy traffic," Dec. 23).
I have reviewed the proposed alterations, and am surprised at the lack of concern shown for the properties that are being affected by the proposal and the long-term impact for both the West Side Neighborhood and the North Washington Park Neighborhood associations as a whole. Besides the fact that it will impact the residential character of the street, I do not believe that the proposed solution to the issue of traffic accidents at that intersection is the best course of action.
In my years as a resident and property owner, I have observed motorists speed through this intersection without concern for the traffic lights. The area north of Lawrence Avenue has traffic lights at every intersection slowing the traffic down significantly. South of Lawrence to South Grand Avenue, there are no lights to slow the traffic to the required 35 mph. Traffic lights at Woodland Avenue and Fayette Avenue would slow the traffic down significantly and be a cheaper alternative.
The area east of MacArthur Boulevard also has traffic lights interspersed between MacArthur Boulevard and Ninth Street, slowing traffic down. To the west, there are no traffic lights between MacArthur Boulevard and Chatham Road to slow down the traffic to the required 35 mph. Two to three traffic lights on this stretch of Lawrence Avenue would slow the traffic down significantly.
Both these alternatives are less costly than that proposed by the city and would have little or no impact on the residential character of these two neighborhoods. I hope it is not too late for the city engineers to consider a less costly and impactful alternative than the drastic elimination of mature trees and the parkway.
Enrique J. Unanue
Springfield
SLOW DOWN
The problem is people flying up and down MacArthur Boulevard like it's a race track. I drive it Monday-Friday and I see lots of people flying through red lights, even when kids are getting out of school and there are children walking down the road and crossing streets. Too many people just don't care.
Ken Teubner
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
CAMERAS?
I hate them, but maybe red light or speed cameras are the answer.
Don Schaefer
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes.com
SOLAR BENEFITS
Prime farmland is owned by agricultural corporations ("Protect prime farmland from solar," Dec. 23). Those crops go to corporate factory farms as feed. The chemicals on the fields are deadly to wildlife and people. Nobody but elitist corporations profit from the farmland. Solar benefits everyone.
Candy Anderson
Via Facebook.com/illinoistimes
DOUBLE STANDARD
Not a peep when we build new neighborhoods and strip malls, because that's "progress." But let someone try to use the same land for solar or wind power and now it's a problem?
Betsy Busch
