Part A Process - Study Process

The first step of the Study was Part A, analyzing the existing and future conditions, and defining the purpose and needs for improvements. The tasks in Part A included collecting information on current population, employment and traffic conditions; developing geographic information system to organize and display the data; forecasting future population and employment growth in the area; predicting future travel demand, and evaluating the performance of the transportation system under future conditions. The result of this work is published as the Transportation System Performance report. With this information, IDOT identified transportation deficiencies, and has begun the planning process for developing local and regional solutions to address these deficiencies.

A year of collecting, forecasting, and evaluating.

The steps for Part A of the study are shown in this chart. The population and employment forecasts will lead to an estimate of travel demand. From this estimate, current and future transportation system performance will be evaluated and will result in the identification of transportation system needs. Public involvement will be crucial throughout the entire study process.

• Data Collection/Assembly - Information to be collected in the general study area includes current traffic and accident data and information on public transit, walking, bicycling and equestrian travel. Population and employment data will be collected, as well as community comprehensive land use plans, zoning ordinances, and other significant development proposals. Lastly, collecting transportation plans and capital improvement programs from local, regional and state agencies will be necessary to learn what projects agencies are planning for the future. You and your local leaders will be very involved with identifying the plans for your communities and the needs you anticipate.

• GIS/Mapping - A computerized GIS, or Geographic Information System, will be used to assemble, manage and display aerial photography, environmental mapping, land use, zoning, population and employment and other relevant data.

• Population & Employment Forecasts - Population and employment forecasts will be developed for the year, 2030 - 27 years into the future. The population and employment forecasts will be developed for the larger northeastern Illinois region, which includes Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Kankakee, Lake, McHenry and Will. For this study, forecasts will also be developed for LaSalle County. As of the end of September 2003, this forecasting is complete.

• Travel Demand Forecasts - Future travel demand forecasts will use the 2030 population and employment projections and will use the Chicago Area Transportation Study travel demand model. The CATS model is a highly sophisticated mathematical model that uses a number of factors to forecast future travel demand. This travel demand forecast will help identify where traffic congestion will happen in the future. It will also predict how today's travel patterns will change. As of the beginning of October 2003 the study team is close to completing the development of the model that replicates the existing conditions, and has started developing the model for the 2030 conditions.

• Transportation System Performance - The transportation system performance analysis will result in a detailed report on existing and future transportation conditions. Based on the 2030 population, employment, and travel forecasts, IDOT will have an understanding of travel demands and transportation system performance in the study area. This report is being developed as the results and findings become available.

• Identify Transportation Needs - Using the transportation system performance analysis report, IDOT will be able to identify what transportation needs - both local and regional - will exist. The identification of transportation needs is a proactive way to address problems before they happen. This task will begin when the transportation system performance has been evaluated.

Major milestones for Part A of the Study were the completion of the Transportation System Performance Report and the identification of transportation needs in March 2004.

The study team completed the needs assessment for the study area (Part A). Transportation deficiencies have been identified that indicate the need for some type of north-south transportation improvement, so the study has moved to Part B.

With deficiencies established, the study is proceeding with developing the specific purpose of improvements and the needs that will be addressed. Possible solutions are being evaluated by looking at preliminary alternatives that meet the purpose and need. A wide range of alternatives that could include upgrading the existing roads, new roads, public transit or a combination of improvements will be identified and evaluated against the needs that are found.

The process of evaluating and selecting possible solutions to an identified need will follow the federally mandated National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. A Notice of Intent (NOI), which signifies the start of this process, was published on September 10, 2004 in the Federal Register.

This is a very comprehensive and complex process. In simple terms, the next step in the study will be Part B. Part B is basically a screening step that begins with identification of a wide range of possible solutions, and ends with the selection of an alternative(s) for further detailed evaluation. Under the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act, “reasonable alternatives,” including a “no build” alternative, will be objectively examined during this process.

Public involvement activity and context sensitivity will continue to be applied throughout the course of the study.

Part B Process

Select the highlighted graphic buttons below (in purple) to view more information (PDF format) .

General Study Area