Students afraid to cross busy Annie Glidden Road might have a reason to relax in the very near future.

The Annie Glidden Task Force, made up of NIU students, administrators and DeKalb city officials, on Thursday made several safety recommendations to the NIU president’s senior cabinet, and will go before a DeKalb City Council workshop Monday. Changes to traffic signals, crosswalks and lighting are among its ideas.

The task force was put together last October in response to safety concerns raised after two accidents on Annie Glidden Road involving students. NIU senior Nicole Murawski was killed Sept. 15 in a hit-and-run accident near Crane Drive, and freshman Georgene Volintine was struck Oct. 3 at Glidden and Lucinda Avenue, suffering minor injuries. The task force met seven times between October and December before developing its recommendations.

Chairman Bob Albanese, NIU’s associate vice president of finance and facilities, said the group has come up with some quality ideas.

Some short-term, inexpensive solutions can be implemented rather quickly, he said. The task force has planned an aggressive public awareness program on pedestrian safety in which the Campus Parking Services office will distribute pedestrian safety brochures to students applying for parking permits.

Student Association president Ken Getty, a task force member, stressed that students need to be informed about safety issues. He cited other educational mediums available to students, including television Channel 8 in the residence halls, the SA Web site (www.sa.niu.edu) and student radio station WKDI.

“This problem is being taken very seriously, and the students’ concerns and voices on safety are being addressed,” Getty said.

The most dangerous intersection in need of a solution is Stadium Drive and Annie Glidden, Albanese said. Getty suggested a light be added at the intersection, helping students who cross from the residence halls or area apartments.

“People will feel more comfortable crossing the intersection if there is a light,” Getty said.

But Albanese said fast fixes aren’t likely.

“Unfortunately, things can’t be done as quickly as everyone likes,” he noted.

The task force proposed several long-term solutions for NIU and city to review, including constructing a permanent traffic signal at Stadium and Glidden, installing “countdown timers” on pedestrian signals to monitor the amount of time pedestrians have to cross the street before the light changes, and improving lighting between Lincoln Highway and Hillcrest Drive.

On Thursday, the panel also recommended installing:

— Crosswalks with lights between Lucinda Avenue and Hillcrest Drive.

— Barriers that would funnel crossing students into the crosswalks.

— A possible underpass at Stadium Drive to decrease the number of pedestrians who cross over Annie Glidden Road.

Closing Stadium Drive near the Campus Recreation Center and the Chick Evans Field House also was mentioned.

“The city council must decide on what possible projects want to be investigated further, and then a joint agreement may be formed between NIU and the city of DeKalb on planning, construction and financing of any possible solutions,” said Ralph Tompkins, DeKalb public works administrator.

Getty and Albanese said the task force has stirred great cooperation between the city and NIU.

“There was no searching for answers with the range of university and city officials that sat on the committee,” Getty said.

New safety measures will affect NIU students “even 20 years down the road,” he said.