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PUBLIC MEETINGMay 12, 2011

The Illinois Department of Transportation welcomes you to the second Public Meeting regarding the Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study of the interchange of Interstate 55 and Weber Road.

Your participation in tonight's meeting will help shape future improvements for Weber Road and the interchange. We appreciate your involvement in the project development process this evening and look forward to your continued participation throughout the study.

1 P U B L I C I N V O L V E M E N T

Project StatusPHASE IIIConstructionPHASE IIContract Plan Preparation & Land AcquisitionPHASE IPreliminary Engineering & Environmental StudiesSTART

The study of the interchange at I-55 and Weber Rd. is currently in the middle of Phase 1 of IDOTs project development process. The Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study will be processed as an Environmental Assessment or EA, following the guidelines set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act, commonly referred to as NEPA.

Phase 2, the design and land acquisition stage, will begin after the completion of this study. And w hen Phase II activities are complete and funding for construction is secured, Phase III, the construction of the project begins.

IDOTs share of the funding for this project exists for all three phases of I-55 at Weber Road is currently included in the Illinois Department of Transportation 2012-2017 multi-year program.

This phase one study began in early 2010 with.

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Project StatusPublic Meeting (May 12, 2011)Project StatusProblem StatementPresent Purpose and NeedPresent Range of AlternativesEvaluation & Screening CriteriaNext Steps

P U B L I C I N V O L V E M E N T DEVELOP PURPOSE AND NEEDIDENTIFY DEFICIENCIESFINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA)DETAILED STUDIES AND IDENTIFY PREFERRED ALTERNATIVEEVALUATE ALTERNATIVESIDENTIFY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVESPUBLIC MEETINGSTUDY MILESTONESTART201020112012PUBLIC HEARINGPublic Meeting #1(April 7, 2010)Project ScheduleProject Development Context Sensitive SolutionsInitial Data Findings

Project Study Group (PSG)Technical Advisory Group(TAG)Community Advisory Group(CAG)

Clark Dietz, Inc. & Sub-Consultants

with a public meeting in Aprill 2010. At the first meeting, information was provided on the project schedule, the federal project development process, IDOTs Context Sensitive Solutions public involvement process and some initial data findings.IDOT and their consultant team have been working since the April 2010 meeting, towards achieving project milestones.

At each milestone, the Project Study Group comprised of IDOT and the consultant team have sought input from the Community Advisory and Technical Advisory Groups

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Project StatusPublic Meeting (May 12, 2011)Project StatusProblem StatementPresent Purpose and NeedPresent Range of AlternativesEvaluation & Screening CriteriaNext Steps

P U B L I C I N V O L V E M E N T DEVELOP PURPOSE AND NEEDIDENTIFY DEFICIENCIESFINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE & ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA)DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNICAL STUDIESEVALUATE ALTERNATIVESIDENTIFY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVESPUBLIC MEETINGSTUDY MILESTONESTART201020112012PUBLIC HEARING

IDOT would like to take the opportunity tonight to

update you on the project status;Present the project problem statement;Present the Purpose and need and get your comments;Review the Initial range of alternatives and record new ideas you may have;Introduce the alternative evaluation process and screening criteria;And, let you know the next steps in the project process and future opportunities for public involvement.

With the goal of the meeting in mind, lets review the project to date. 4Define ProblemAlternative Development Process

Alternative Development ProcessIdentify ContextConsiderationsStakeholder Considerations / Community AssetsEnvironmental Considerations / Compatibility with the EnvironmentEngineering Considerations / Transportation NeedsPreferred AlternativeEvaluate AlternativesRange of AlternativesIdentify StakeholdersInterest GroupsLocal BusinessesRegional AgenciesElected OfficialsPublic/StakeholdersCity/County StaffTransportation Providers

The project began with the identification of project stakeholders. Anyone who has a stake in the project or its outcome, can be a project stakeholder. At the April 2010, meeting individuals and businesses signed up for the project mailing list and others volunteered to serve on a Community Advisory Group.

A community context survey was also distributed at the first meeting and is used as one tool in the next step of the process: Identifying project context. The survey results along with a Community Advisory Group workshop, helped the project team understand the context of the study area, stakeholder considerations and community assets.

Then, with the help of the Community Advisory Group, the transportation deficiencies in the area and the transportation problem was defined. A problem statement was developed with the Community Advisory Group and describes the perceived needs of the project from a users perspective. 5Alternative Development Process

Alternative Development ProcessConsiderationsStakeholder Considerations / Community AssetsEnvironmental Considerations / Compatibility with the EnvironmentEngineering Considerations / Transportation NeedsPreferred AlternativeEvaluate AlternativesRange of AlternativesDefine ProblemIdentify ContextIdentify StakeholdersPURPOSE AND NEED REPORT

The transportation needs identified by the community advisory group through the work on the problem statement and the results from the Community Context Survey given at the first public meeting, are two inputs into the Projects Purpose and Need document.

The Purpose is an overarching statement of why you are pursuing the project;The Need is a tangible fact based problem ; i.e. a transportation deficiency

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Purpose and Need DevelopmentSTAKEHOLDER INPUTCONTEXT SURVEYPROBLEM STATEMENTTECHNICAL ANALYSISCRASH DATA ANALYSISTRAFFIC DATA ANALYSISPUBLIC AND AGENCY COORDINATIONPURPOSE AND NEED REPORT

The stakeholder input is considered in addition to the technical analysis on the data collected by the project team including crash data and existing and future traffic conditions, to create the projects purpose and need report.

The Purpose and Need is an important milestone in the project as it is explains why the project is being worked on and drives the analysis process by providing the first measure on which to evaluate potential solutions.

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Project PurposeThe purpose of the proposed action is to provide an improved transportation facility in the Interstate 55 and Weber Road Interchange project study area. The specific needs to be addressed include safety, operational, and capacity deficiencies.

The overarching statement of why IDOT, in cooperation with Will County, is pursuing the I-55 at Weber Road project is

to provide an improved transportation facility in the project study area and address safety, operational, and capacity deficiencies.

When the input from the technical analysis and input from stakeholders were grouped into similar categories, those categories eventually became the three identified needs of the project as written in the document. 8

Purpose and NeedNeed: Improve SafetyTechnical AnalysisCommunity Advisory GroupCommunity Context Survey

The first identified need is to improve safety. Stakeholder input identified traffic safety, and pedestrian, bicycle, and handicap accessibility as highly importance. An analysis of the crash history in the project study area revealed a high number of rear end crashes which typically indicates a highly congested area. 9

Purpose and NeedNeed: Address Operational DeficienciesTechnical AnalysisCommunity Advisory GroupCommunity Context Survey

The second identified need for the project study area is: address operational deficiencies.

Inadequate lane markings, poor signage, and merging problems were some issues identified by the Community Advisory Group and the results from the Community Context Survey indicated that traffic signals, lighting, and access were of high importance in the area.

Technical analysis and a physical inventory of the study area showed that some of the roadway geometry is substandard for todays traffic and intersections are spaced more closely than is desirable.10

Purpose and NeedNeed: Improve CapacityTechnical AnalysisCommunity Advisory GroupCommunity Context Survey

And, the third identified need is to improve Capacity. The Community Advisory group and the Context Survey indicated that the high volume of trucks and congestion is an important issue; while the technical analysis confirmed that the Level of Service on Weber Road is not acceptable and will continue to decline as traffic volumes increase in the region.

Please take the opportunity tonight or soon after this meeting to review the Purpose and Need document and submit your comments to IDOT if there is a need in the study area that has not been addressed.

11Alternative Development Process

Alternative Development ProcessBrainstorm alternatives with stakeholdersSolicit alternatives from agenciesDevelop alternatives with project teamPreferred AlternativeEvaluate AlternativesRange of AlternativesDefine ProblemIdentify ContextIdentify Stakeholders

Now that project stakeholders and community context have been identified and the transportation issues have been documented in the Purpose and Need, development of solutions to address those needs, can begin.

The first step in the process is to develop a range of alternatives to study. The Community Advisory Group, agencies including the IDOT and the Federal Highway Administration, and the project study team have brainstormed their ideas for possible solutions to address the needs to improve safety, operations and capacity.

Tonight, you will have the opportunity to review the initial range of alternatives and add to it if there is an alternative that is not being considered.

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Preliminary AlternativesInterchange ImprovementsWeber Road ImprovementsOther mode accommodations

Many ideas were developed and to summarize the various components of the initial range of alternatives being considered, individual ideas have been grouped together in categories of similar ideas which are 1) improvements or reconfigurations at the interchange, 2) improvements or modifications to Weber Road, and 3) non-motorized improvements in the project study area.13

Preliminary AlternativesInterchange ImprovementsWeber Road ImprovementsOther mode accommodations

Lets take a look at the interchange improvements first. There are six different interchange types being considered in the initial range in addition to the no-build alternative will be carried through the process as a basis for comparison.

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Interchange Improvements

CLOVERLEAFFree-flowing trafficLarge footprintWeaving sectionsNot pedestrian friendly

The first is a cloverleaf interchange. This is a common type of interchange that allows traffic to flow on and off the interstate freely but can have issues with entering and exiting traffic weaving together. Cloverleafs have large footprints and are generally not pedestrian friendly because there are no traffic signals to allow for pedestrians to cross the ramps.15

Interchange ImprovementsPartial CloverleafNo weavingSome free-flowing movementsSome signal controlSmaller footprint in some quadrants

The second type of interchange being considered is a Partial Cloverleaf. It is similar to the full cloverleaf but the weaving movements are eliminated by use of signalized intersections on some of the ramps. The footprint of the Partial Cloverleaf is smaller in the quadrants without the loop ramps.16

Interchange ImprovementsDiamondSignal controlled intersectionsSmaller footprint

The third type being considered is a diamond interchange. The existing interchange is a diamond built for a rural condition. The interchange would be re-built to current standards. Diamond interchanges typically have a small footprint but are prone to congestion and accidents if there are high traffic volumes because vehicles typically must pass through 2 signalized intersections along the cross road.17

Interchange ImprovementsSplit DiamondSignal controlled intersectionsAccess distributed at two locationsFrontage road system

Another option is a Split Diamond Interchange. This interchange distributes the access between two locations and uses a frontage road system to complete the interchange. One idea is to distribute access between Weber Road and Veterans Parkway.

There is a split diamond at I-355 and IL 171.18

Interchange ImprovementsSingle Point UrbanDiamond (SPUDI)Small footprintOne signalized intersectionLarge structure

The next type under consideration is a Single Point Urban Diamond. This interchange type has a small footprint but requires a very large bridge structure. Traffic from all four interchange ramps meet at a single intersection at the cross road, enabling traffic to flow better than a Diamond interchange.

I-55 at Pulaski Road is one example.

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Interchange ImprovementsDiverging DiamondSmall footprintAccommodates heavy left turn trafficFree flow Interstate entrancesDriver unfamiliarity

The last type of interchange in the initial range is a Diverging Diamond. A Diverging Diamond has a small footprint and can accommodate heavy volumes of left turn traffic. Drivers may be unfamiliar with type of interchange, as there are presently none in Illinois.

There is a diverging diamond in Springfield, Missouri

and at Pioneer Crossing in Utah.

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Veterans ParkwayIL Route 126

In addition to reconfiguring the I-55 at Weber Road interchange, new access points at Veterans Parkway and at IL 126 have been suggested to be in the initial range. A new interchange at IL 126 is being studied as a separate and on-going project.

Ideas for re-routing ramp locations in conjunction with a new interchange are also being considereda few of the suggested new ramp locations include exiting southbound I-55 onto Lakeview, exiting northbound I-55 onto Normantown Road, entering southbound from the frontage road, and entering northbound from the frontage road.

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Preliminary AlternativesInterchange ImprovementsWeber Road ImprovementsOther mode accommodations

The next group of similar ideas for meeting the projects needs are improvements to Weber Road.22

Weber Road ImprovementsExisting LanesAdded LaneAdded LaneAdditional Capacity

Adding additional capacity by widening from 4 to 6 lanes,23

Weber Road ImprovementsLighting

improving roadway lighting,24

Weber Road ImprovementsRaised Median and Physically Separated Turn LanesAccess Management

controlling the locations where traffic can cross Weber Road, and separating turns lanes are some of the ideas.25

Weber Road ImprovementsAdditional turn lanesImproved traffic signal coordinationTurn prohibitionsImproved signage/stripingPedestrian/Bicyclist accommodations

Improvements to the 9 intersections in the study area have also been suggested in conjunction with widening Weber Road such as adding turns lanes, improving signal coordination, improving striping, and providing accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists.26

Preliminary AlternativesInterchange ImprovementsWeber Road ImprovementsOther mode accommodations

The last category includes ideas that accommodate traffic other than just motorized vehicles...27

Other Mode AccommodationsPedestrian/Bicycle access over I-55

Connect existing bike path network

PACE Park-N-Ride

such as providing separate accommodations for pedestrian and bicycle access over I-55, space for a PACE park-n-ride and connections to the existing bike path network. Some accommodations for other modes are subject to local agency interest and cost participation.

Please browse the exhibits at tonight's meeting and add your ideas to the range of alternatives28Alternative Development Process

Alternative Development ProcessConfirm alternatives meet Purpose and Need and transportation performance measuresCompare impacts to natural and built environmentPreferred AlternativeEvaluate AlternativesRange of AlternativesDefine ProblemIdentify ContextIdentify Stakeholders

The next step in the project process is to analyze and the evaluate the initial range of alternatives. One of the first measures of screening will be to make sure the alternatives meet the Projects Purpose and Need and transportation performance measures. Then impacts to the natural and built environment will be counted and compared.29

Transportation Evaluation CriteriaAssess existing conditionsEvaluate safety performance of each alternativePerformance metrics may include:Adherence to safety standardsProjected change in crashes from 2040 baselineADA CompliancePedestrian/bicycle compatible

Address OperationalDeficienciesImprove CapacityImprove SafetyNEED

To ensure each need of the project is met, different measures will be used. To measure safety improvements, adherence to safety standards, projected change in crash frequency based on traffic volumes, and pedestrian and bicycle compatibility are some of the items that will be evaluated.30

Transportation Evaluation CriteriaAssess existing conditionsEvaluate alternatives on addressing design issues

Performance metrics may include:Design deficienciesRight-of-WayConstruction Costs

Address OperationalDeficienciesImprove CapacityImprove SafetyNEED

Operational deficiencies will be analyzed by looking at design deficiencies, right-of-way and construction costs.31

Transportation Evaluation CriteriaBaseline condition will be 2040 (no improvements)Evaluate alternatives on projected changes in travel conditionsPerformance metrics may include:Level of Service (LOS)Right-of-WayConstruction Costs

Address OperationalDeficienciesImprove CapacityImprove SafetyNEED

And capacity improvements will be measured by comparing improvements in the Level of Service.

32ResourceEvaluation CriteriaWetlandsNumber of wetlands impactedAcres of wetland ImpactsFloodplainsAcres of floodplain impactedThreatened and Endangered SpeciesNumber of species encounteredT&E species habitat lossParks and RecreationNumber of parks impactedAgricultural LandsAcres acquiredPrime farmland impactedGroundwaterNumber of setback zones encroachedSpecial WasteNumber of special waste sites impactedEconomic and BusinessNumber of business relocationsAcres of business property acquisitionLoss of direct access to Weber RoadLoss of parking areaPublic facilities, schools and places of worshipNumber of facilities impactedEnvironmental Evaluation Criteria

In addition to the transportation performance measure, environmental criteria will be considered including wetland and floodplains impacted and economic and business impacts.33

Alternative EvaluationFatal Flaw ScreeningPurpose & Need ScreeningRound 1 AnalysisLevel of Service (LOS)Right of WayStakeholder InputInitial AlternativesPreferred AlternativeEliminate Alternative(s)Eliminate Alternative(s)Eliminate Alternative(s)Round 2 AnalysisEnvironmental ImpactsLevel of Service (LOS)Right of WayCostsStakeholder InputEliminate Alternative(s)

The stepwise process to screen and evaluate alternatives will begin soon after tonights meeting when the Purpose and Need and the initial range is finalized.

The alternatives will undergo a fatal flaw screening to eliminate any ideas that are un-constructible or unfeasible.

Next, the remaining alternatives will be evaluated to ensure they meet the purpose and need.

Then, a first round of analysis will screen alternatives based on their transportation measures as compared to the no-build alternative.

A second round of comparative analysis will then count and compare the environmental impacts and the transportation measure of the still under consideration after the round 1 analysis.

Stakeholder input is important in each step of the process and the Community Advisory Group, local, State, and Federal agencies will have input in the selection of the preferred alternative as will the general public.

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Alternative Development ProcessDetailed engineering and environmental analysis of remaining alternativesEvaluate performance, impacts, and costsRecommend preferred alternative

Preferred AlternativeEvaluate AlternativesRange of AlternativesDefine ProblemIdentify ContextIdentify Stakeholders

After the initial two rounds of screening, the last step in the development process will be to perform detailed engineering and environmental analysis on the remaining alternatives. The performance, impacts and costs will be evaluated and a preferred alternative will be recommended and documented in an environmental assessment.35

Next Steps P U B L I C I N V O L V E M E N T PUBLIC MEETINGSTUDY MILESTONESTART201020112012Public Meeting (Fall 2011)Present the results of technical screeningIdentify alternatives to carry forward

PUBLIC HEARINGDEVELOP PURPOSE AND NEEDIDENTIFY DEFICIENCIESFINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE & ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA)DETAILED ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNICAL STUDIESEVALUATE ALTERNATIVESIDENTIFY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES

As previously mentioned tonight, there are still many opportunities for you to have input in the project. The findings from the first rounds of evaluation will be reported at the next public meeting scheduled for the fall of this year. After the meeting in the fall, a smaller number of alternatives will be carried forward for even more detailed study in the environmental assessment. Through detailed study and with the consideration of stakeholder input, a preferred alternative will be recommended early next year and presented at a Public Hearing.36

Thank You!

Please browse the exhibitsDirect questions to the study teamPlease fill out a comment form Comment period ends May 26, 2011Visit the website: www.I55atWeber.comThank you for attending!

Please feel free to browse the project exhibits, comment on the Purpose and Need, review the initial range of alternatives and the evaluation criteria, directing any questions you have to the study team. Comments can be placed in the comment box tonight, mailed in or submitted online at the study website as listed on the back of your brochure. Your comments must be received by May 30, 2011 to become part of this meetings official record. This concludes the audio visual presentation. Thank you for attending!

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