Former Village of Manhattan Trustee Ron Adamski talks with Farnsworth Group Project Manager Greg Huss about his concerns on Route 52 — namely with truck traffic. He attended the open house with brother-in-law John Kieken of Manhattan Township. Adamski and Kieken founded Stop NorthPoint, a group dedicated to fighting truck traffic and NorthPoint Development’s project in neighboring Jackson Township. (Photo by Stephanie Irvine)

 

By Stephanie Irvine

 

The Route 52 Corridor Safety Plan open house, held by the Farnsworth Group on July 16, was well attended, despite the high heat index and dangerous Canadian wildfire haze impeding air quality, which otherwise encouraged the public to stay home.

 

“There was a great turnout today. While this corridor presents unique challenges, especially with heavy truck traffic, we must continue working together to identify solutions that improve safety for everyone,” Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen said.

 

About 50 people attended the event, held from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Manhattan Junior High, though most arrived in the first hour.

 

After being greeted at the front doors of the school, residents were able to provide feedback directly on large maps, as well as on community feedback slips.

 

“I think it’s always a good opportunity to include residents in major decisions that are happening. I do have a few concerns about what should be done,” Manhattan resident Laura Larsen said.

 

Larsen specifically raised issues with an area between Smith and Manhattan Road along Route 52 that has no sidewalk.

 

“There’s no way that’s safe for anyone to cross Route 52 at that point,” Larsen said.

 

The open-house style event “aim[ed] to identify opportunities to enhance safety for all users—drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists along one of the community’s most important transportation corridors.”

 

There were no plans displayed for what will happen with Route 52 — that will come after engineers and planners have a chance to study the area and assess the feedback they received at the July 16 open house.

 

For those who couldn’t attend the open house, an online survey will soon be available, giving residents another opportunity to provide their input.

 

“It’s great that the most important element of the town — the residents — have an opportunity to shape the future of Manhattan for generations to come,” Police Chief Ryan Gulli said, underscoring how much their input matters.

 

Greg Huss, Farnsworth Group Project Manager and Urban Planner, said they hoped to be able to unveil plans at the end of the year and again gather feedback from residents and whether they approved or disapproved of proposed changes.

He anticipated it could be held in January, though no date has been scheduled yet, and he noted they’d want to avoid the holidays.

 

Placed throughout the room, large charts allowed residents to adhere stickers to the areas of most concern.

 

“There are a lot of differences along the corridor with different needs to address. It’s a very dynamic area,” Huss said, noting the challenges at the north end aren’t necessarily the same in the middle and at the south end of the corridor.

 

Several other Farnsworth Group representatives were present to listen, take notes and field questions from those in attendance.

 

“There’s just so much that can be improved, it’s hard to know where to start — but this is a really great way to get it started,” said Liz Leamer, resident and member of the steering committee.

 

Residents, community stakeholders and “steering committee” members, as well as local elected officials, including state Rep. Anthony DeLuca, D-Chicago Heights, walked through the setup at the Manhattan Junior High to give their opinions on what should happen with the busy thoroughfare.

 

“This is a very positive thing that the village is making this opportunity available for the community to see the documents, talk to Farnsworth Group representatives and provide feedback,” DeLuca said.

 

“It’s an important component of overall safety, with all units of government working together, and IDOT has been more responsive to Manhattan than ever before,” DeLuca added, noting that it really helps when everyone is “working in unison together.”

 

Recently, DeLuca worked with state Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Kankakee, and other legislators to pass a bill in the last legislative session that requires IDOT to study the 10 most hazardous intersections under state jurisdiction south of I-80. IDOT will be required to submit a road safety assessment to the General Assembly by Jan. 1, 2028.

 

Route 52 runs right through the Village of Manhattan and its downtown, serving as a major thoroughfare for vehicle and freight traffic, as well as pedestrian and bicycle traffic. The busy corridor has seen many severe, sometimes fatal accidents.

 

Last fall, a fatal accident devastated the community when a 13-year-old Manhattan boy, Chance Hunnicutt, was riding his bike when he was struck by a semi-truck and killed. The village worked with IDOT to install stop signs at the intersection.

Still, the village is considering additional measures to improve safety not just at that intersection but along Route 52, affecting local businesses and residents.

 

At the north end of town, the park district’s iconic Round Barn Farm sits just south of Baker Road on Route 52, a curvy intersection that has also had its share of accidents, including several fatalities.

 

Notably, three young men, Giosan Garay, Juan J. Bernal, and Jesus Martinez, all from Plainfield, all lost their lives in a two-vehicle accident in 2022.

 

Erica Aultz, resident and member of Manhattan’s school board, said she was glad the road was being studied so improvements could be identified.

 

“[Route 52] is almost the foundation of our town, the businesses, the schools — our lives revolve around it. Especially in light of what happened last year, I hope we never have to repeat that again,” Aultz said, referencing the accident that claimed Hunnicutt, who was a student at the junior high.

 

The workshop is part of a larger initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program, which selected Manhattan to receive a $100,000 Planning and Demonstration Grant, announced in September 2024.

 

“This grant is just the beginning. Addressing truck traffic and safety concerns on Route 52 has been a priority for the Village Board,” said Adrieansen. “Once the plan is developed, we will work closely with IDOT to implement these improvements and make a lasting impact on our downtown.”

 

The Village formally launched the comprehensive study to the public this past April, and it has been working with the Farnsworth Group to assist with planning. Together, they developed a 12-person volunteer group, called a “steering committee,” made up of community members to help guide the Manhattan Corridor Safety Plan.

 

“We have to do something to address the concerns of citizens plus the concerns of traffic flow,” Manhattan Fire Protection District Chief Steve Malone said, noting that speed, people unfamiliar with the area and how traffic flows through the area are major challenges.

 

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.

Residents adhered sticky notes with comments to large printed maps to make their concerns known. (Photos by Stephanie Irvine)

Greg Huss, Farnsworth Group Project Manager and Urban Planner, talks with Manhattan resident Susan Naples.

 

John Kieken points to dots he placed in between “large truck traffic” and “unsafe pedestrian traffic” because he says it all starts with truck traffic.

A memorial to Chance Hunnicutt, a student at Manhattan Junior High, is a reminder of the need for a Route 52 safety study.