(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A group of volunteers in far northwest suburban Barrington have convinced the village to will add more crossing guards following the death of a teen girl in January.
Roma Khan spoke at the village of Barrington's board meeting Monday night.
Khan founded the Barrington Student Safety Organization days after 17-year-old Barrington High School student Marin Lacson was hit and killed by a Metra train while on her way to school in January.
"We're happy to say that, at this point, the village has approved adding at least four crossing guards at four intersections.
"We also asked for an increase in the rate for the crossing guards because, as it is, these school traffic crossing guards were suffering — they were down to two from six," she said. "I've spoken with their lead supervisor, and they've all expressed that a rate would make a big difference because they were only getting paid $16 an hour."
Communications provided to WBBM showed that the rate increase would have Barrington's crossing guards making a base rate of $20 per hour, effective Monday.
Khan told WBBM her group fought hard to make the village "see the value in adding more safety for railroad crossings."
"We did the work and convinced them," she said.
At Monday's meeting, Khan said she other members of her organization have been volunteering for almost 10 weeks.
"There's a lot of risky behavior from children — and they're children, they're going to be distracted — so we're happy that this will be implemented very soon," Khan said.
Underpasses are also being constructed to replace crossings.
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