On June 16, 2004, more than 80 people attended two public workshops held by IDOT to generate transportation alternatives to address the transportation needs of the Prairie Parkway study area. Participants were given a status report on the study, including the results of the Transportation System Performance report and the draft purpose and need. After this introduction, participants, in groups of 10 to 15, worked with a facilitator to discuss the purpose and need and to identify transportation alternatives on study area maps. These alternatives represent potential solutions for addressing existing and future travel demand in the study area. A wide range of alternatives were identified including new north-south freeways and arterial roads, improving existing arterials roads (like IL 47, Orchard Rd, Randall Rd and others), new rail and bus transit services, and improvements to existing operating conditions like upgraded signals and timing.

The alternatives identified in the workshops will be reviewed to combine duplicate or very similar ideas. Then, they will be advanced through a series of evaluations to screen down the number of alternatives to a single solution or a small set of alternatives. The evaluations include how well the alternative addresses the purpose and need, along with an analysis of environmental and community impacts, cost, public acceptance, economic development opportunities and refined system performance measures. This process is currently underway and IDOT expects to present the findings of each stage of the alternatives evaluation process to the public. It is anticipated that the results of the functional evaluation will be presented this fall, with the final evaluation to be completed next spring.