Turning IL 173 into a "Complete Street"

Calling all cyclists who live, work or play near IL 173, west of Illinois 59 to east of U.S. 41 in Lake County. IDOT is having a public meeting on Thursday to seek input on transportation needs along and across the roadway. Please contact gin@bikelib.org if you can attend the meeting to speak on behalf of those who bike or walk in the area (or who would, if conditions were improved).

The meeting notice from IDOT is below.  LIB submitted comments on this project this spring, calling for cycling and walking accommodations along and across IL 173.   The Complete Streets law helps with this process, but there is always the question of what kind of accommodation will be chosen and whether local communities are willing/able to provide the local match (ie, pay for part of the project), especially if a sidepath is deemed the most suitable accommodation due to traffic speeds and volumes. For this project, LIB called for a sidepath, with careful consideration given to intersection design. Our alternative suggestion is shoulders, a sidewalk and preserved right of way for a future sidepath. We also called for intersection improvements. As currently configured, the roadway receives a low score of 36 out of 100 points according to LIB's Complete Streets Audit Methodology. http://www.bikelib.org/other-advocacy/complete-streets-audits/

 

Please don't hesitate to contact me for more information.

Gin Kilgore
Program Manager, League of Illinois Bicyclists

The statewide advocate for all Illinois bicyclists, promoting bicycle access, education, and safety.

www.bikelib.org
773.332.6117 (cell)
gin@bikelib.org

 

**PUBLIC NOTICE**

 

IDOT to Host Open House Public Meeting for Illinois 173 Study

 

LAKE COUNTY - The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will host a public meeting June 30, 2011, concerning the proposed improvement of Illinois Route 173 from west of Illinois 59 to east of U.S. 41 in Lake County.

 

Thursday, June 30, 2011

4 - 7 p.m.

Lakes Region Historical Meeting House

977 Main Street

Antioch, Ill. 60002

 

The purpose of this meeting is to gather input regarding transportation needs within the study corridor, to outline the study planning process and to discover opportunities to become involved.

 

An audio-visual presentation will be shown every 30 minutes beginning at 4 p.m., with the last showing at 6:30 p.m. All members of the public are free to attend between 4 and 7 p.m. Staff with IDOT and project consultants will be available to discuss the project and answer any questions. A Web site tailored to the study, www.illinoisroute173study.com, is available with project updates and upcoming meeting times and locations.

 

The meeting is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Anyone requiring special assistance can contact Marnell M. Morse at (847) 705-4107. People planning to attend who need a sign language interpreter or similar accommodations can notify IDOT's TTY/TTD number at (800) 526-0844 or 711; TTY users who speak Spanish can call (800) 501-0864 or 711. For Telebraille, dial (877) 526-6670. All requests should be made at least five days before the meeting.

 

In surveys of our
members, improving the bikability of roadways consistently emerges as a top
priority, even over trail development. We recognize that this is a large
project and that the roadway changes character as it moves west from the Des
Plaines River Trail, though rural areas and open spaces, to connect to the
urbanized area of Antioch. A variety of strategies are available to accommodate
cycling and walking in a way that recognizes the context of the roadway. Regardless
of the strategies used, we hope you agree that future work along IL 173
should not worsen but rather improve cycling conditions along and across the
corridor.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jeff Markus on June 27, 2011 at 10:50am

I have sent a comment to the project website and posted it to the BCHI site for reference.

I suggest all do the same (well the comment part anyway)

Jeff

The Chicagoan

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on June 28, 2011 at 8:37am

We hope more local people will be able to attend or submit comments.

 

Here's more info from our blog, copied/pasted below...our North Suburban Coordinator, Barb Cornew, will be at the meeting.

 

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

 

Ensure better active transportation in Northern Lake County

 

If you travel in Northern Lake County, IL, you know that biking and walking can be tough on some roads. One of those roads is IL 173 (Rosecrans Rd.), which runs in the vicinity of communities like Antioch, Old Mill Creek, Wadsworth and Zion.

 

This Thursday, June 30th, the Illinois Department of Transportation is holding a public meeting to seek input on transportation needs for IL 173 between IL 59 to the west to U.S. 41 to the east.

 

If you have some ideas about how to make this road more inviting to people who bike and walk, please come share your local knowledge.

 

IDOT Public Meeting on IL 173
Lakes Region Historical Meeting House
977 Main St., Antioch IL
4 to 7 p.m.


An audio-visual presentation will be shown every 30 minutes beginning at 4 p.m., with the last showing at 6:30 p.m. IDOT staff and project consultants will be available to discuss the project and answer any questions. Learn more about the project and get upcoming meeting times and loc...

 

If you come at 6 p.m., please introduce yourself to me, Barb Cornew, your Active Transportation Alliance North Suburban Coordinator. Hope to see you there.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on June 30, 2011 at 4:28am

Reminder: the meeting is tonight!

 

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

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