Two electronic radar speed signs have been installed on North Bloomington Street in Streator, just before the intersection with Morrell Street, to warn drivers to slow down near Streator High School.

The signs were installed shortly before the start of the school year on Wednesday, August 14th.

The Streator High School Board of Trustees and the Streator City Council have agreed to split the cost of the signs.

The signs indicate the speed of the driver as they pass and advise them to either “slow down” if they are just exceeding the speed limit or “too fast” if they are speeding too high.

Streator resident Jeremy Whitfield spoke at a 2023 city council meeting calling for a traffic light to help students cross Bloomington Street, which brought the issue to the council’s attention. City engineer Jeremy Palm explained to the council that Bloomington Street is a state highway and a traffic study was needed for the city to apply to the Illinois Department of Transportation for approval to install a traffic light along the route. No traffic study was required to install the electronic radar sign.

After a student was hit by a car in 2006, the city installed crosswalks, flashing warning lights and new signage to make the streets safer for students. Vehicles must stop when students use the crosswalks.

The school day at Streator High School begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. During this time, red warning lights near crosswalks are activated and student pedestrian traffic is at its highest.