November 17, 2006

The Prairie Parkway Study Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is available for public review.  The DEIS documents the needs for transportation improvements for north-south travel between Interstate 80 (I-80) and Interstate 88 (I-88), and the selection of alternatives for detailed study.  The benefits and impacts of two build alternatives and the No-Action Alternative are assessed.  Key findings are summarized below.  We also encourage you to carefully review the full DEIS, particularly as it relates to issues important to you and your family.  The DEIS includes a longer summary of findings.  A detailed table of contents and an index are included to help guide you through the document.  The full DEIS is available at public libraries throughout the study area and on-line {view DEIS Report}. You can also order a CD on the project website.

Background 

In 2002, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) identified and recorded a protected corridor for a potential transportation facility to be built if and when one was needed.  In 2003, IDOT began detailed assessments, called the Prairie Parkway that could either eliminate or move the protected corridor.  The purpose of this study was to determine if transportation system improvement(s) were needed, and if there was a need, the type and location of improvements that would best meet that need.    

The study first analyzed transportation system performance without major new improvements, and identified existing and potential future deficiencies.  The transportation system was found to be deficient in its ability to effectively serve current and future local and regional travel demand.  Four specific needs were identified:

1. Improve regional mobility by providing more north-south, higher speed multi-lane roads or additional lanes to serve traffic growth and reduce regional travel times for longer-distance travel.
   
   
2. Address local system deficiencies by developing a transportation system that serves forecast growth in local traffic and reduces travel times.
   
   
3. Improve access from the study area to regional jobs by serving the forecast growth in work trips and by reducing travel times from the study area to current and future jobs.
   
   
4. Improve safety by reducing existing and projected growth in motor vehicle crashes. 

The consideration of potential alternatives to meet these needs included an extensive stakeholder involvement program.  At meetings throughout the study area, the public and other stakeholders identified over 150 ideas that were organized into a set of preliminary alternatives that included arterial roadway improvements, new freeways, transit improvements, and congestion management strategies.  The location oft these alternatives spanned the full study area of Kendall County, eastern portions of LaSalle and DeKalb Counties, northern Grundy County, western Will County, and southern Kane County.

Through on-going public involvement, consultation with community and agency leaders, engineering, traffic, and environmental studies, the wide range of build potential improvement alternatives were narrowed to two detailed build alternatives that were selected for further detailed environmental and engineering assessment.  The two alternatives appear to reflect the best blend of providing travel benefits, compatibility with future land use plans, and minimizing environmental and development impacts.

The proposed improvement is the construction of an access-controlled, four-lane freeway in Grundy, Kendall, and Kane counties, Illinois between I-80 and I-88 and the widening of IL 47 to four lanes from I-80 to Canton Farm Road.  Detailed build alternatives are identified as Alternative B2 and B5.  In addition to including the widening of a portion of IL 47, Alternative B2 is a generally straight north-south connector between I-80 and I-88 located four miles west of existing IL 47, connecting to I-80 near Morris, Illinois.  Alternative B5 is similar to Alternative B2 except that south of Caton Farm Road, Alternative B5 turns to the east to connect to I-80 near Minooka, Illinois.   Both build Alternatives also include widening IL 47 to four lanes from Caton Farm Road to I-80.  The option of taking no-action remains an Alternative.

IDOT worked closely with environmental groups, landowners, communities, agencies, and the Corridor Planning Group (CPG) to design and evaluate the two detailed build alternatives.  All helped IDOT avoid, minimize, or mitigate community and environmental impacts.  Provisions for a shared use path, aesthetic corridor themes, water treatment features, and decisions for maintaining local road circulation are a few of the major contributions the CPG and public have provided to make the alternatives evaluated in the DEIS a  regional asset.  These cooperative efforts in context sensitive design will continue should one of the detailed build alternatives be selected for implementation.

Summary DEIS Findings

Alternative B2 (33.9 miles long) provides the shorter connection between I-80 and I-88 and a greater focus on serving regional travel.  Alternative B5 (37.0 miles) is longer, but provides a more direct connection to the high growth areas of Will County and follows the boundaries of planned development areas.  Alternative B5 avoids segmentation of agricultural areas in south Kendall County identified for agriculture in future land use plans.  Both build alternatives also include widening 12 miles of IL 47 to four lanes.

Both of alternatives will meet the needs the project in a similar manner.  The environmental impacts will be similar for the two alternatives.  The construction will result in the relocation of 22 residences for each alternative.  Of these relocations, 9 are caused by the widening of IL 47.  An estimated 2,544 to 2,645 acres of new right-of-way and other land purchases will be required.  The majority of required land is currently used for agriculture; however, some locations are wooded.  South of Caton Farm Road, one half of the estimated right of way for B5 lies within planned development areas while B2 passes through agricultural areas.  Approximately 2.7 acres of wetlands affected will be mitigated as part of the project.  

Population and employment added by the Prairie Parkway is expected to be concentrated around the state highway interchanges having ramps.  Very little added growth is expected at I-80 and I-88 interchanges because of no new local access.

Population and employment added by the Prairie Parkway is measured against the growth without building Prairie Parkway as noted below:

• Kane County: 1.3% more people and 1.8% more jobs are forecast by year 2030 than with no Prairie Parkway.

• Kendall County: 5.7% more people and 27.7% more jobs are forecast by year 2030 than with no Prairie Parkway. 

• Grundy County: 2.0% more people and 5.1% more jobs are forecast by year 2030 than with no Prairie Parkway.

Because of the early and considerable planning involvement by the public and the CPG, the level of environmental impacts for the detailed build alternatives is comparable on a per-mile basis with the longer  Alternative B5 having the greater direct impacts on existing features.  Cost per mile is also comparable with the longer Alternative B5 having a greater total cost.  The level of benefits for addressing the purpose and need are also comparable. There are impacts related to natural resources, socio-economic factors, floodplains, noise, visual, and agricultural business.  In summary, the distinguishing differences seen at this time between the detailed build alternatives are found in:

• The way in which they meet project need with Alternative B2 being better at improving regional mobility and Alternative B5 being better at providing improved access to regional jobs.
  
  
• Their compatibility with local land use plans with Alternative B5 corridor being adopted in several local land use plans.  Alternative B2 passes through agricultural areas in south Kendall County identified for retention as agriculture in local land use plans.
  
  
• Their water quality and water resource impacts are similar but affect different watersheds.  Alternative B5 passes along the Aux sable Watershed, Alternative B2 passes through the Nettle Creek watershed.
  
  
• Since the May 2005 public meeting, government bodies in the project area have submitted four resolutions and four letters of support for Alternative B5 with IL 47 widening.

The DEIS, location maps, and engineering drawings overlaid on aerial photography will be available for viewing during public hearings on December 6th and 7th, 2006.  This same information will be available for viewing at the IDOT District 3 Office, 700 East Norris Drive, Ottawa, IL; at the IDOT District 1 Office, 201 West Center Court, Schaumburg, IL; at the office of Smith Engineering, 759 John Street, Yorkville, IL; and at public libraries throughout the study area.   This data and other information about the Prairie Parkway Study can also be viewed on-line by visiting www.prairie-parkway.com.

Comments on the DEIS are due by January 16, 2007, and should be sent to:

Diane O’Keefe, P.E.
IDOT District 3 office,
700 East Norris Drive
Ottawa, IL. 

Following the public hearings, public and agency comment and other study findings will be considered in selecting a preferred alternative in early 2007.  The Final Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared in mid-2007.  The official Record of Decision is anticipated to be issued by the end of 2007.