Plan of Evanston
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ordinance in existence making Ridge Avenue a boulevard, but the street has had to take the overflow of commercial traffic from Chicago Avenue and Clark Street, and acts more or less as a trunk artery for heavy traffic. When Dodge Avenue is put in shape, as suggested below, and with Asbury now opened into Western Avenue, Chicago, Ridge will be relieved of the commercial through traffic and should be maintained strictly as a boulevard.
GROUP"B"
Chicago Avenue, which connects with Chicago along Clark Street, is the only outlet from Evanston for strictly commercial vehicles. I t will always remain, because of its central location, the most important street for heavy traffic. It is now badly congested with huge trucks, funeral processions, farm market wagons, and street cars. It is just as important to the welfare of Evanston that immediate steps be taken to relieve this traffic congestion on Chicago Avenue as it is to relieve the congestion of pleasure vehicles along Sheridan Road. The easier it is for motor trucks to reach Evanston from Chicago, the quicker they can travel and consequently the cheaper it will be to transport goods to our merchants.
We have made recommendations in the following pages for opening up additional streets for traffic communication with Chicago to relieve this congestion on Chicago A venue and Clark Street.
We recommend that the present usage of Chicago Avenue for heavy traffic be maintained from Howard Street on the south to Church Street on the north, but that a sign be placed on an island to be located at the corner of Church Street and Chicago Avenue, diverting all heavy traffic west to East Railroad Avenue along Church Street and let it enter Wilmette on West Railroad A venue. From Church Street north we recommend that Chicago Avenue be maintained as a boulevard to the point where it merges with Sheridan Road at University Place.
