| An important factor in determining
the need for future transportation investments is the projection
of future population and employment. These projections form the
basis for estimating what future travel conditions will be like.
An analysis of both existing and future traffic conditions will
be performed to identify transportation needs in the general study
area.
In developing the 2030 population and employment projections for
this study, every effort was made to be consistent and to be coordinated
with the development of the 2030 Northeastern Illinois Planning
Commission (NIPC) population and employment forecast process. To
develop forecasts for the Prairie Parkway study area, factors are
considered such as an analysis of past trends, U.S. Census data,
current development proposals, available land for development, local
and national county level forecasts, socio-economic conditions,
and other indicators. The resulting 2030 population and employment
forecasts are presented below.
As of 2000, the general study area was home to more than 1.2 million
people. In a one-year time span, between 2001-2002, Will County
added more than 27,000 people (an increase of 5.1%); Kane grew by
more than 17,800 (4.2%); and Kendall added slightly more than 3,400
people (5.9%) to its population base. By 2030, the estimated population
in the six counties is nearly 2.3 million, an increase in excess
of 1 million new residents.
| County |
2000 Population |
2030 Population |
Change % |
| Dekalb |
88,969 |
130,000 |
46% |
| Grundy |
37,535 |
65,300 |
74% |
| Kane |
404,119 |
680,000 |
68% |
| Kendall |
54,544 |
131,000 |
140% |
| LaSalle |
111,509 |
123,400 |
11% |
| Will |
502,266 |
1,136,700 |
126% |
| Sub-Total |
1,198,908 |
2,268,000 |
89% |
| Total CMSA |
9,157,540 |
11,560,800 |
26% |
|
As of 2000, employment in the six counties totals almost 600,000
jobs. By 2030, estimated employment is anticipated to total almost
1.1 million, or an additional 600,000 jobs. The table shows the
distribution of population and employment within the counties.
| County |
2000 Employment |
2030 Employment |
Change % |
| Dekalb |
48,446 |
67,000 |
38% |
| Grundy |
20,119 |
30,000 |
49% |
| Kane |
242,211 |
389,000 |
60% |
| Kendall |
21,606 |
38,000 |
75% |
| LaSalle |
59,620 |
84,000 |
41% |
| Will |
185,225 |
475,000 |
156% |
| TOTALS |
577,227 |
1,083,000 |
87% |
|
The next step in the planning process is to develop estimates of
how much travel will result from these new residents and jobs. Forecasts
of future traffic conditions will be developed using a complex computerized
model developed by the Chicago Area Transportation Study. A transportation
system performance report that summarizes the results of the analysis
of existing and future traffic conditions and the identification
of needs will be posted on this website early next year.
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