Transportation Advisory Board Meeting - September 3, 2026

The Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) met on September 3, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The primary agenda item was receiving a presentation and providing input on the proposed update to the City’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, including public comments and board discussion. The meeting adjourned at 7:54 PM.

Consent Calendar

• Approve minutes of August 6, 2026 TAB meeting: Motion by Ulger, seconded by Krzywinski, approved 7-0 (3 absent: McBroom, Rose, Webb).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Councilman Ian Holzhauer: Requested the addition of a recommendation for an off-street bicycle route through Downtown for the DuPage River Trail, highlighting a "missing mile" connection between the Illinois Prairie Path and the river trail. Noted city leaders and civic leaders support this idea.
• Rick Hitchcock (retired urban designer, former Riverwalk commissioner): Expressed overall support for the plan. Asked that the plan reflect upcoming Riverwalk 2031 updates that will accommodate cyclists in two new sections. Also requested the plan explicitly name Downtown Naperville Alliance, Downtown Advisory Committee, and Naperville Riverwalk Commission as future partners.
• Catherine Clarkin (Founder, Accelerate Climate Solutions): Expressed overall support but stated the plan does not go far enough to protect cyclists. Advocated for protected bike lanes over unprotected ones on roads with speed limits above 25 mph, citing fatality risk statistics. Noted intersection solutions such as bike boxes, all-way stops, and no turn on red were underutilized.
• Bill Simon (32-year resident): Spoke in support of expanding citywide bicycle and pedestrian facilities, citing the success of the DuPage River Trail. Supported investment despite seasonal usage.
• Justin White (resident): Acknowledged victims of bicycle accidents, including a family member. Emphasized the need to improve safety, comfort, and accessibility to prevent fatalities.
• Ernest Oxenkuechot (resident, avid cyclist): Expressed safety concerns about speed differentials between cars and cyclists, north-south connectivity on the east side of Naperville, crossing IL Route 59, and the negative impact of traffic calming designs on Jefferson Ave that force cyclists into traffic.

Discussion Items

• Presentation by Consultants: Greg Osborne and Stephanie Nappa (A. Epstein and Sons International) presented the draft Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update, covering goals (safety, comfort, connectivity), community engagement (over 90 open-house attendees, over 500 interactive map comments, over 850 likes), existing conditions analysis (strengths: extensive sidewalk, low-stress residential streets; challenges: barriers from rivers, railroads, high-speed streets), and recommendations (over 100 infrastructure projects, policy/program recommendations). The total cost estimate is $54 million through 2050, with projects broken into short-, medium-, and long-term.
• Board Questions and Comments:
  • Member Hanley: Expressed concern about speed and visibility of cyclists at trail crossings, citing Conan Doyle Rd and Plainfield-Naperville Rd. Suggested safety elements should be considered more closely. Asked about motion-activated beacons; staff indicated current use of push-activated beacons and that a crossing toolkit will guide future treatments.
  • Member Hurley: Asked whether recommendations are aspirational or realistic. Consultants stated they are somewhere in between, with costs not capped but derived from recommendations. Staff noted coordination with other jurisdictions and constructability as variables.
  • Chairwoman Nair: Asked about current spending for bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure and whether the $54 million is incremental. Staff explained projects are integrated into existing CIP and roadway maintenance, making annual costs difficult to estimate; a request for feasibility study funding is in the 2027 budget. Nair also asked about further refinement of the downtown bicycle connection; staff said a feasibility study will explore options.
  • Member Hurley: Asked how public forum feedback will be incorporated. Staff stated edits will be made and brought back to TAB at a later meeting.

Old Business

• Overnight Parking Survey: Transportation Manager Michael Prousa provided an update. The survey is open through September 18, 2026, and has received approximately 2,000 responses. Recommendations on the Overnight Parking Program will be brought to TAB in the fall.

Key Outcomes

• The presentation on the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan update was received by the board. Staff will incorporate feedback from the meeting and public comments, and will return with a revised plan for TAB consideration at the October 2026 meeting, aiming for city council approval in late October/early November 2026.
• The board will receive updates on plan implementation every six months.
• The meeting adjourned by motion of Strom, seconded by Hanley, approved 7-0.