News Flash

Riverside Police Department has stepped up its traffic enforcement, traffic monitoring, pedestrian safety enforcement, and bicyclist awareness educational programs as it relates to all summer construction going on in the village during the next several months.

RPD has mapped out locations where collisions have occurred and are redeploying resources towards better traffic enforcement and monitoring the areas around Barrypoint Road, Fairbank Road, the center of town adjacent to the Burlington Northern Railroad, Forest Avenue, and First Avenue.

The following steps have already been taken as they relate to traffic enforcement:

• Police have employed standby crossing guards who are now assigned to East Quincy and Riverside Road until the end of the school year to assist children avoid the construction area adjacent to the Burlington Northern Railroad platform.
• Police have already developed a traffic enforcement plan for Barrypoint and Fairbank Roads during the upcoming repaving.
• Riverside has coordinated some traffic enforcement efforts with the Villages of Brookfield and North Riverside, and they have been kept informed as daily traffic issues occurring in Riverside affect their jurisdiction.
• The Police Department has been in contact with the Brookfield Zoo Police Chief and Administration in regard to large crowds as summer approaches. RPD will be working with BZPD during warmer weekends to assist in traffic enforcement when needed.
• Administrative personnel are now assigned to street duty during peak construction times.
• Routine informational e-blasts are being sent out to our residents when traffic concerns are warranted and/or the Department has been notified of increased outside events that will affect traffic.
• All police officers have been briefed at roll calls about what's expected from them during the construction phase and construction during the summer months in Riverside.
• Officers will be assigned to extra traffic enforcement on an overtime basis as needed.

In addition to the above measures, Riverside Police Department contacted both the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and Metra and advised them of the construction project in the center of town. RPD requested that they notify all their trained staff of this situation and use caution when traveling through the grade crossing at the center of town at Longcommon Road. Traffic situations will be fluid as construction progresses; Riverside Police will monitor it and make changes when necessary.

Riverside Police Chief, Thomas Weitzel, stated, "I implore our residents and other drivers to use caution and be patient, especially in the central business district area and along the Burlington Northern Railroad tracks and First Avenue. Traffic will be congested and there will be delays.”

Weitzel continued saying, “One major request have is that drivers NOT stop on the railroad tracks. Before you even start to cross the tracks, make sure the vehicle in front of you gets completely over the tracks AND then be sure you have enough room behind that vehicle so you may completely clear the tracks and do not have to stop on them. If you see that traffic is backed up in front of you, stop before the tracks and don’t cross them until you have room to do so."

Anyone who has any specific traffic enforcement concerns or issues that they would like to see addressed in regard to construction traffic, they can email Chief Weitzel at tweitzel@riverside.il.us.