You are running late for school, speeding through the winding neighborhood roads and turning onto Geneva St. As you steadily approach the intersection at Wood St., there is no stop sign in sight. You assume it is safe and proceed to slowly inch yourself out. Then—BAM! A car slams into you from the side, sending you spinning into the middle of the road. Confused and disoriented, you realize the problem: a missing stop sign left you vulnerable to disaster.
While this scenario is uncommon, it highlights a serious issue with unprotected intersections, where even experienced drivers can be caught off guard. The absence of vital traffic signs can lead to dangerous situations, putting both drivers and pedestrians at risk.
At a Crossroads
What might have initially seemed like a small oversight at first can have far-reaching consequences, especially when drivers are relying on visual cues to navigate safely. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) estimates that “intersections constitute only a small part of the overall highway system, yet intersection-related crashes constitute more than 50 percent of all crashes in urban areas and over 30 percent in rural areas.”
At the heart of the issue is the absence of a stop sign on Geneva Street. The intersection forms a Y-shape, with a constant two-lane flow of traffic on Wood St., while Geneva St. meets it perpendicularly.
Despite the presence of a crosswalk on Geneva St., many drivers assume they have the right of way—only to find themselves forced to stop abruptly to avoid disrupting the steady stream of traffic on Wood St.
When students and faculty at West Chicago Community High School were asked about the intersection, responses were mixed. Some found it confusing but manageable, while others shared close calls and frustrations over the lack of clear traffic patterns.
“I don’t understand it … If you’re going to make a left, you could technically be making a left into a car that’s coming the opposite direction. It’s messed up,” West Chicago Police Officer Mike Levato said.
Students at West Chicago Community High School have witnessed many close calls, both whilst being behind the wheel themselves and in the passenger seat.
“It causes more mishap and more misinterpretation. I’ve seen like one accident there already and it’s just not good,” West Chicago Community High School alumni Lam Truong said.
Problem Solving
According to the Federal Highway Administration, statistics state that implementing larger stop signs, adding “Stop Ahead” signs, and enhancing pavement markings have been associated with significant reductions in crashes.
With the ongoing concerns surrounding this intersection, solutions may seem obvious. Some believe more stop signs would improve safety, while others worry that changing traffic patterns could cause new problems.
“I propose that we put a stop sign there since we already have a stop sign on the high school side, [Wood St.] so we might as well put a stop sign on all three,” Truong said.
However, others argue that the nearby railroad tracks complicate the issue.
“My initial thought would be that I don’t think there should be a stop sign on Wood St. going south bound due to the railroad tracks,” Assistant Principal of Administrative Services Dave Pater said.
This is an important criticism to make, as the Federal Railway Administration recorded 102 rail crossing collisions in Illinois in 2024, leading to 52 injuries and 21 fatalities. Illinois ranks sixth highest in overall railroad-related incidents.
Installing a stop sign in this location could potentially create congestion, leading to a backup of traffic that might interfere with the movement of trains. This backup could result in delays or safety hazards at the crossing for drivers and pedestrians.
Adding a stop sign could create congestion and backups, leading to delays and potential hazards at the tracks. While the current intersection design is far from perfect, it prioritizes maintaining a steady flow of vehicles while avoiding interference with the railroad system.
A Closer Look at the Intersection in Question
Although many have proposed a three-way stop or at least relocating stop signs, such changes may not be possible.
In the vicinity of the intersection, there are businesses, parking lots, homes, and the railroad crossing. Two key buildings define the area: Glen Arbor Church and Educare of DuPage.
Local Businesses & Organizations
- Bob’s Feed and Seed – Once a supplier of farm supplies, this now-abandoned business sits in disrepair, adding to the desolate look of the intersection.
- Glen Arbor Church – A 121-year-old Protestant church that serves the local community.
- Educare of DuPage – A learning center, often mistaken for a daycare, that prepares young children for school.
Attempts to contact Educare of DuPage for comment were unsuccessful.
The FOIA Investigation
To better understand the intersection’s safety record, the Wildcat Chronicle filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the City of West Chicago on February 7, 2025, seeking data on crashes, traffic flow, and safety audits.
The response? A denial.
“Request is denied as unduly burdensome. [The] request is too broad. We would have to search years of reports and search through different reporting systems. This would require well over 40 hours of research and we could not guarantee all the requested documents would be discovered,” City of West Chicago Records Supervisor Yahaira Bautista said.
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) was slightly more cooperative. However, its records were incomplete. While IDOT ran two short-term monitoring exercises, neither examined continuous traffic, so it is impossible to determine how many vehicles pass that intersection each day.
When government records failed to provide clear answers, the Wildcat Chronicle turned to firsthand sources.
What Glen Arbor Church Revealed
To gain further insight into the intersection, this reporter visited Glen Arbor Church on a Sunday afternoon after mass to speak with longtime community member Dean Kaplatch.
Kaplatch, a pastor at Glen Arbor Church since the 1990s, has been a part of the community for decades. Before entering ministry, he earned degrees in engineering and construction from Purdue University and now pursues drone science as a hobby, building and testing drones.
While Kaplatch declined to be recorded, he shared valuable details about the intersection and its long-standing safety concerns. Reckless driving, he said, has been a recurring problem on both Geneva St. and Wood St., endangering pedestrians. He recalled one particularly severe incident in which a speeding vehicle lost control and crashed into the church.
Glen Arbor also once had a streetlight outside the building, which improved visibility at night. However, the light was destroyed by a reckless driver and has never been replaced due to complications with an external contracting company responsible for all construction and building permits in the area. According to Kaplatch, this arrangement prevents the City from taking direct action, leaving residents struggling to address safety concerns.
However, one organization successfully pushed for change: Educare of DuPage—not Glen Arbor—filed a formal complaint with the City of West Chicago regarding children’s safety when crossing Geneva St. In response, a stop sign was installed to ensure safer crossings, particularly during peak drop-off and pick-up hours.
Educare also implemented a no-street-parking rule to deter high school students from parking near the facility. Their concerns were twofold:
- Parked cars narrow the road, making it harder for vehicles to pass.
- Blind spots created by parked vehicles increase the risk of accidents.
What Happens Next?
What remains clear is that this intersection is not just a logistical issue—it is a persistent safety concern. Whether through improved signage, additional safety measures, or more transparent decision-making, residents, city officials, and local businesses must work together to address the risks before another close call turns into a tragedy.