Challenge
Main Street is one of the most important corridors in the Village of Downers Grove, Illinois, serving neighborhoods, schools, the downtown district, and the Metra station. As traffic volumes and multimodal demands grew, the existing four-lane undivided roadway created safety and mobility challenges, including higher vehicle speeds, complex turning conflicts, and an uncomfortable walking and biking environment. The Village needed a corridor strategy that improved safety and access for all users while maintaining efficient operations and supporting neighborhood livability without triggering major right-of-way impacts or high-cost reconstruction.
Solution
As the Village’s engineering partner across Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III, HR Green led the project from feasibility through construction using a data-driven, community-supported approach.
Phase I – Feasibility and evaluation: HR Green conducted a comprehensive corridor study to quantify operational performance, safety risk, and multimodal accessibility. The team applied traffic modeling, Highway Safety Manual (HSM) crash analysis, and multimodal level-of-service evaluations to compare alternatives and validate outcomes. Findings showed that a 4-to-3-lane conversion would deliver the strongest combination of safety improvement and operational efficiency.
Phase II – Design and implementation-ready plans: HR Green advanced the selected concept into a complete, buildable design, developing plans, specifications, and estimates in compliance with IDOT and FHWA requirements. The design fit within the existing 40-foot pavement width and incorporated:
- ADA-compliant pedestrian facilities
- Five-foot bicycle lanes
- Pedestrian curb bump-outs
- LED pedestrian-scale lighting
- Dedicated left-turn lanes at signalized intersections
- Targeted drainage improvements
Phase III – Construction engineering and administration: HR Green provided construction engineering and administration, including materials testing, IDOT reporting and coordination, and comprehensive public involvement to support clear communication and smooth delivery. Throughout the project, HR Green used a blend of predictive and simulation-based tools, including Synchro, HSM methodologies, and Highway Capacity Software, to quantify safety and operational benefits and help the Village make informed decisions.
Benefit
The reconfigured Main Street corridor lowers vehicle speeds, reduces crash potential, and improves comfort and accessibility for pedestrians and bicyclists, reconnecting neighborhoods with the downtown district and transit. By reusing existing infrastructure and minimizing new materials, the project achieved fiscally responsible delivery while supporting long-term social, environmental, and economic sustainability through lower-emission travel options. The result is a safer, more resilient, and more connected corridor.
