Hibbard Road fixes get commission’s blessing, but residents question multi-use path

Town officials working to mobilize reconstruction plans for Hibbard Road faced pushback from residents during a Wilmette Transportation Commission on Thursday, July 31.

Residents acknowledged the need for reconstruction and stormwater improvements, but expressed concern about the a pedestrian path included in the recommended plan.

The plan proposes widening Hibbard Road from 20 to 34 feet with two 10-foot driving lanes, two 7-foot parking lanes, and an 8-foot path set off the road to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians.

Despite objections, the commission voted unanimously in favor of the option, which was recommended by the project team — a mix of village staff and consultants — after months of public engagement.

The vote sends the proposal on for further Village review with a positive recommendation.

Residents’ concerns

Although the proposal of the plan follows months of public input and two resident surveys, Wilmette community members showed up Thursday to state their concerns.

Kathy Stein has lived on Hibbard Road for 23 years and said she is thrilled the Village is finally addressing the “neglected” road, but she said the proposed pedestrian path is a safety concern.

She and her husband, Eric Stein, look forward to the curbs, improved drainage and road repaving to help address flooding. But they, as well as other residents of Hibbard Road, spoke out on Thursday against the 8-foot pedestrian path set to replace the existing sidewalk.

“That path, while it’s well intentioned, it does not meet the goals of the Wilmette transportation plan, which is very much in favor of pedestrian safety,” said Eric Stein, Kathy’s husband.

Eric Stein elaborated that introducing cyclists to a path used by strollers, elderly individuals and those with disabilities is a concern, and added that packs of cyclists will continue to bike on the street — another safety concern.

Kathy Stein further expressed concern about how the path might disrupt the community, with cyclists potentially scaring away children and families

She would like to see more research on the need for a path as well as the need for parking on both sides of the street.

“The most important thing for me is what they put in is going to work for the community,” she said.

Another Hibbard Road resident, Mara Gelfgat, also spoke out against the path.

Like the Steins, Gelfgat cited the loss of the sidewalk as disruptive to children and community activity and added that many residents on Hibbard Road back out of their driveways, which adds to safety issues for additional pedestrian traffic on a path.

A need for reconstruction

The Hibbard Road reconstruction project will address four main areas of improvement: pavement reconstruction, stormwater management, bike and pedestrian facilities, and watermain replacement.

These priorities are the result of public engagement from a survey in July 2024. Residents’ feedback focused on drainage, blind corners and invasive plant species.

According to Jennifer Mitchell, the project consultant from BLA, Inc., the pavement is also at the end of its life cycle and needs to be replaced.

“In addition to motorists, this corridor does serve bicyclists (and) pedestrians,” Mitchell said. “Hibbard Road is actually designated as a school walking route and bus service. The current Hibbard Road corridor is inadequate for each of these uses.”

The implementation of a side path, rather than an in-road bike lane, will tackle concerns about pedestrian and bicyclist safety, Mitchell said. Citing transportation experts, she said a path is recommended for younger people who are less experienced with roadway traffic.

Other updates to Hibbard Road will include the installation of signage to improve safety at Skokie Boulevard. These signs, which read “Turning vehicles must stop for pedestrians,” will light up to alert drivers. The Village will also pave the parking spots for townhomes at that location.

A contested selection

Choosing a plan to move forward with was not easy, Mitchell said.

A public information meeting in April produced no clear favorite among four options, with residents preferring two options.

To further assess public opinion, the project team conducted a survey in May that included the two favored options from the April meeting as well as a new option that drew on aspects from both.

The survey received 79 responses, with those from residents of Hibbard Road weighted more heavily. After yet another stalemate between the same two options, the project team examined only votes from Hibbard Road residents, finding a 17-12 split between the two favored options, and proceeded with the more popular plan.

“Any one of these alternatives, all five of them, can be built and be implemented,” Mitchell said. “But we felt that the people that were living there should have greater weight versus the rest of the village since they are living there and would be experiencing the changes.”

Just getting started

With support from the Transportation Commission, the project team will assess utility and landscaping impact and begin to design stormwater systems and watermains, Mitchell said.

Construction will not proceed until after a final public information meeting (date to be determined) and design approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Once the Village receives approval from IDOT , they can move into the second phase to tackle detailed design and later construction in a third phase, said Ron Milanesio, the project manager.

Milanesio said Phases 2 and 3 are not funded yet and therefore do not have a specific timeline.

With Hibbard Road under Cook County jurisdiction, an Invest in Cook grant is funding the first phase, and the latter two will need additional grant funding, which the project team reportedly will apply for this fall.

Once construction is completed, a jurisdictional transfer will likely occur, with ownership switching from the county to the village, according to village officials.

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