FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022
June 2, 2008

ONLINE SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY IN DU PAGE

DuPage County is pleased to announce that a new website system will allow County officials to analyze vehicle crashes in a more expedient manner thanks to a grant received through the CMAP United Work Program.

DuPage County received a $150,000 United Work Program Grant through CMAP last year, which included a 20 percent match from the County.  Upon receiving this grant, the County contracted with Midwestern Software Solutions in August of 2007 and began work in September of that same year on this project. 

This new system, sponsored by DuPage County, will analyze traffic crash history at intersections and on roads throughout the County, and will help officials develop solutions that will ease hazardous conditions on roadways.

“This system has been customized for DuPage County and includes all county streets and jurisdictions,” said Pam Rion, Chairwoman of the County’s Transportation Committee.  “By having this system in place, we can work to ensure our streets remain safe for motorists and that unnecessary accidents are avoided.”

The goal of this new system is to assist County, local Police and Public Works staffs evaluate accident locations and to compare them without having to go through thousands of paper reports, which will in turn help communities in asking for safety funds.  The system is currently updated through integration of Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) data that is submitted to the IDOT Division of Traffic Safety.

For more information on this new initiative, please call John Loper, Principal Transportation Planner, at (630) 407-6882.

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