WELCOME

IL 47

Public Information Meeting #3Waubonsee Community College

Tuesday, March 28, 20174 – 7 p.m.

The Village of Sugar Grove, in partnership with Kane County, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois Tollway welcomes you to the third Public Meeting for the proposed interchange improvement study of Illinois Route 47, designated by the Village as Sugar Grove Parkway, at the Reagan Memorial Tollway, Interstate‐88, in southern Kane County.  We thank you for attending today’s meeting and we look forward to your continued participation throughout the development of this project.

1

MEETING PURPOSE

Today’s meeting will provide a summary of the work completed to date, provide an update on the current project status, and identify the next steps.  The purpose of today’s meeting is to present the results of the alternatives screening and to obtain input on the alternatives carried forward.  Your input is a valuable part of the study planning process. Following this presentation you can review detailed project information in the adjoining room, ask the project study team questions and provide suggestions and comments.

2

PROJECT LOCATION

Kaneville

Sugar Grove

Aurora

Elburn

Maple Park

North Aurora

Batavia

Geneva

Project Location

The routes under study have both regional and interstate significance.  IL 47 is primarily a rural north–south state highway that runs from central Illinois to Wisconsin for a distance of approximately 170 miles. I‐88 is an interstate that runs from western Illinois to metropolitan Chicago for a distance of approximately 140 miles.  This section of I‐88 is under the jurisdiction of the Illinois Tollway and is designated the Reagan Memorial Tollway.  Since 2010, all of I‐88 has been part of the Chicago–Kansas City Expressway (CKC) and designated Illinois Route 110. The study area includes the Village of Sugar Grove and unincorporated Blackberry and Sugar Grove Townships.

3

From: Old Oaks Road / College Drive

To: Green Road

Length: Approx. 2 miles

STUDY AREA

Roadway Study Limit – Logical Termini

Study Area Boundary

LEGEND

From: ½ mile west of IL 47

To: ½ mile east of IL 47

This study area includes Illinois Route 47 from Waubonsee Community College at Old Oaks Road to Green Road.  The study limits on I‐88 extend approximately one‐half mile east and west of IL 47.  

4

Phase I

• Preliminary Engineering

• Environmental Studies

Phase II

• Contract Plan Preparation

• Land Acquisition

Phase III

Construction

PROJECT PHASES

Roadway projects are typically implemented in three distinct phases. Phase one includes preliminary engineering & environmental studies. During this phase, issues and concerns are identified; solutions are proposed; and the public is engaged. Phase one typically takes 3‐5 years to complete.  Phase two includes contract plan preparation and land acquisition. Phase two typically takes two years to complete.  Phase three is the construction phase, which is most visible to the public.  Phase three typically takes two to three years to complete and is subject to funding availability.  This project is currently in phase one. Project costs will be developed as part of this study. This improvement is partially funded in IDOT’s FY 2017‐2022 Proposed Highway Improvement Program and requires additional local cost participation to advance beyond Phase I.

5

Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) involves stakeholders in the project development process

CSS reflects the project surroundings – its “context”

CSS addresses all aspects of a project: Safety and mobility

Community

Environment

Usability

Multimodalism

PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM

The public involvement program for this project is following the principles of Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS).  This process involves stakeholders in project development,reflects the project surroundings, its “context”, and addresses all aspects of a project including:  Safety and Mobility, Community, Environment, Usability, and Multimodalism.

6

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969

Compliance required for federal funding eligibility

Full range of reasonable alternatives, including the “no-build” alternative

Coordination with environmental resource agencies

Comprehensive environmental review

(avoid, minimize, mitigate impacts)

Environmental Assessment (EA)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROCESS

This project is being studied in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969. Compliance with this act has allowed the project study to be funded with federal dollars and will also allow future phases to be paid for, in‐part, with federal dollars.  A full range of reasonable alternatives, including the “no‐build” alternative are under consideration.  The project team also coordinates with environmental resource agencies and comprehensive environmental reviews are being performed.  Findings will be documented and made available for public review in an Environmental Assessment (EA) document.

7

PUBLIC &COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP (CAG)

PROJECT STUDY GROUP (PSG)

STUDY GROUPS

RESOURCE AGENCIES

There are three general groups that are participating in this Phase I Study.  The Project Study Group, P‐S‐G, the Resource Agencies, and the balance of stakeholders, which includes the general public and the Community Advisory Group, often referred to as the CAG.  The PSG collects and analyzes data, promotes partnership, and ensures requirements are met. The Resource Agencies help identify issues of environmental and socioeconomic concern as well as provide input on the purpose & need, alternatives, and the sufficiency of environmental analysis.  The role of the public and CAG is to advise the P‐S‐G on issues related to the design, throughout the entire study process. The CAG has met four times since the project began.

8

PHASE I PROCESS

Human and Natural

Environment

Hydraulics, Drainage &

BridgeRoadway, Geometrics

& Traffic

Vehicular/Pedestrian

Safety

Data Collection

Data Collection

Purposeand

Need

Purposeand

Need

Evaluate Alternatives

Evaluate Alternatives

Define Alternatives

and Evaluation

Criteria

Define Alternatives

and Evaluation

Criteria

Select Preferred

Alternative

Select Preferred

Alternative

2015 2016 2017

Stakeholder Outreach

Document Findings of

Environmental Studies

Document Findings of

Environmental Studies

Many elements are considered throughout the development of the project including roadway, geometrics and traffic; vehicular and pedestrian safety; hydraulics, drainage and bridge structures; and the human & natural environment.  This timeline illustrates the basic steps of a Phase I study.  This project has completed the data collection,  Purpose and Need, and alternative development stages of the study.  The project is currently in the alternative evaluation stage.  The next and final step of the phase I process will be the selection of the preferred alternative and the documentation of the environmental studies.

9

PUBLIC MEETING RECAP

Public Meeting #1

July 29, 2015• Described Project Study and Process• Obtained Input on Issues and Concerns• Identified Involvement Opportunities

Public Meeting #2

May 3, 2016• Reviewed the Purpose and Need• Presented the Initial Range of Alternatives• Obtained Input on the Alternatives

The first public meeting was held on July 29, 2015.  The project study and process was described.  Many issues and concerns were obtained from stakeholders.  Public involvement opportunities were identified and membership to a Community Advisory Group was sought.

The second public meeting was held last spring on May 3, 2016. The project purpose and need, to improve system linkage and to accommodate land use and economic development, was presented. The initial range of build alternatives including both Illinois Route 47 and interchange alternatives was presented and input was sought.  Most of the comments received were regarding the interchange types and the IL 47 alignments. There were also general comments regarding schedule, project limits, access, and turn lanes. 

10

ALTERNATIVE EVALUATION AND SCREENING PROCESS

Develop Initial Alternatives

Round 2 ScreeningLevel of Service, Right-of-Way, Environmental

Concerns, Stakeholder Input, Cost

Round 1 ScreeningLevel of Service, Right-of-Way, Environmental

Concerns, Stakeholder Input

Purpose & Need Screening

Eliminated Alternatives

PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE

Alternatives Carried Forward

The alternative development and evaluation process is a continuous process with multiple rounds of evaluation. Alternatives have been screened out through the process based upon their characteristics. Alternatives started with a low amount of detail at the beginning of the process and have increased in detail as they passed through each round of evaluation. The process started with addressing how well each alternative addresses the project transportation needs as identified in the Purpose and Need statement. Further rounds of evaluation screened alternatives based upon transportation needs, additional pedestrian safety elements, environmental factors, community factors, and costs.

11

Where does IL 47 go?

What does IL 47 look like?

ALTERNATIVES

Typical Sections

Alignment

8 Build Alternatives + 1 No-Build

Illinois Route 47 alternatives had a combination of design considerations including, the alignment – where does Illinois 47 go, and the typical section – what does Illinois 47 look like.  Four alignment alternatives of Illinois Route 47 were combined with certain typical section alternatives for evaluation.  A total of eight Illinois 47 build alternatives were evaluated in two rounds.  The no‐build alternative was carried through both rounds of evaluation for comparison purposes.

12

Alternative Carried Forward

Alignment

No-Build Existing Roadway

M-1A Widening on Both Sides of the Road

M-1C Widening on Both Sides of the Road

M-2CWidening Towards the East Side of the Road

Except Widening Both Sides of the Road at the Forest Preserve

ALTERNATIVES CARRIED FORWARD

NO-BUILD

M-1A

M-1C

M-2C

Of the eight build alternatives, five were screened out in the process leaving three build alternatives to be carried forward.  Information regarding the eliminated alternatives and why they were screened out can be found in the next room.  We are seeking your input on the alternatives today.

13

ALTERNATIVE

EXISTING AT WAUBONSEE

C.C.

NO-BUILD

50 FEET

EXISTING AT INTERCHANGE

ALL OTHER EXISTING

22 FEET

Looking North

For the no‐build alternative, the existing typical section includes 4 travel lanes at Waubonsee Community College and at the interchange with I‐88.  Everywhere else the typical section has 2 travel lanes and no median.  The median at Waubonsee Community College is a 50 feet wide with inside shoulders and ditch.  The median at the interchange is 22 feet wide with raised curb median.

14

ALTERNATIVE

30 FEET

M-1A

EXISTING ALIGNMENTWIDENING ON

BOTH SIDES

WIDENING ON BOTH SIDES

Looking North

The first build alternative to be carried forward is alternative M‐1A.  It includes a 30 wide median, outside shoulders, and path or sidewalk on each side.  The roadway would be widened on both sides.

15

ALTERNATIVE M-1C

30 FEET

Looking North

WIDENING BOTH SIDES WIDENING BOTH SIDES

22 FEET

WIDENING BOTH SIDES WIDENING BOTH SIDES

MINIMIZE FOREST PRESERVE IMPACTS

The second build alternative to be carried forward is alternative M‐1C.  It includes the same attributes as the previous alternative except when adjacent to the Forest Preserve.  At the forest preserve the median is narrowed from 30 feet wide to 22 feet wide in order to minimize forest preserve impacts. 

16

ALTERNATIVE M-2C

Looking North

30 FEET

EXISTING CENTERLINE WIDENING MORE TOWARDS EAST

MINIMIZE RESIDENTIAL

IMPACTS

22 FEETWIDENING BOTH SIDES WIDENING BOTH SIDES

MINIMIZE FOREST PRESERVE IMPACTS

The third build alternative to be carried forward is alternative M‐2C.  It includes the same typical section at the Forest Preserve as the previous alternative.  At areas other than the forest preserve, it has a 30 foot wide median but the widening of the road is shifted toward the east to minimize residential impacts.  The existing roadway centerline generally becomes the center of the southbound lanes.

17

INTERCHANGE ALTERNATIVESCARRIED FORWARD

Alternative Carried Forward Interchange Type and Configuration

Half Diamond with Access To and From the West

I-1 Conventional Diamond with Traditional Intersections

I-2 Conventional Diamond with Roundabout Intersections

I-3 Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI)

I-4 Partial Cloverleaf with Loop Ramp in the Northeast Quadrant

NB

I-1

I-2

I-3

I-4

NO BUILD

Seven new interchange alternatives were evaluated in addition to the no‐build existing partial access interchange. More information on the interchange screening can be found in the next room.  Interchanges 5, 6 and 7, which included variations of partial cloverleaf interchanges with loop ramps in the southeast and southwest quadrants, were eliminated during the screening.  This left four new interchange alternatives to be carried forward, numbered 1 thru 4, in addition to the no‐build alternative.  All of the interchanges accommodate pedestrians and bicycles on IL 47 crossing I‐88.  We are seeking your input on these alternatives today.  

18

NO-BUILDEXISTING HALF DIAMOND

NB

Partial Access (only to and from west)

Poor Driver Expectancy

Doesn’t Meet Purpose and

Need

The existing interchange configuration is a half diamond with access only to and from the west.  This alternative was carried forward for comparison purposes to the build alternatives.  The northern intersection is free‐flow with northbound to westbound (left turning) traffic yielding to southbound traffic.  The southern intersection is under stop control with IL 47 under free flow conditions and the eastbound exit ramp under stop control. 

19

CONVENTIONAL DIAMOND I-1

Stop Signs Short Term

Traffic Signals Long

Term

Requires Bridge

Widening

Long Term Capacity Concerns

The first build alternative is alternative I‐1.  It is a conventional diamond that would complete the existing half diamond by adding ramps to the east side of IL 47 thus providing new access to and from the east.  Because traffic signals are not warranted within 5 years of construction, intersections would be controlled by stop signs in the short term and traffic signals would later be installed for the long term.  This alternative requires widening of the existing IL 47 bridge over I‐88.  There are long term capacity concerns with this alternative.

20

CONVENTIONAL DIAMONDWITH ROUNDABOUTS

I-2

Operational Concerns

Requires Bridge

Widening

Higher Wetland Impact

The second build alternative is alternative I‐2.  It is a conventional diamond, just like the previous alternative, but with roundabout intersections instead of conventional intersections.  No traffic signals would be required with this alternative.  There are operational concerns with this interchange type.  This alternative would also result in the need for bridge widening.  The footprint of this interchange results in higher wetland impacts.

21

DIVERGING DIAMOND (DDI) I-3

Higher Capacity than

Conventional Diamond

Requires Additional Bridge

Requires More Land Acquisition

Higher Wetland Impact

The third build alternative is alternative I‐3.  It is a Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI).  A DDI is similar to a conventional diamond with traffic signals, except the Illinois Route 47 travel lanes cross each other twice, once on each side of the I‐88. The DDI provides more capacity than a conventional diamond. Traffic signals would be required for implementation.  This alternative would require an additional IL 47 over I‐88 bridge to be constructed.  This alternative requires more land acquisition and has a higher wetland impact.

22

PARTIAL CLOVERLEAF I-4

Stop Signs Short Term

Traffic Signals Long Term

Northeast Loop Ramp to Handle

High Traffic Volumes

No Additional Bridges or Bridge

Widening Required

The fourth and final build alternative is alternative I‐4.  It is a partial cloverleaf (parclo) with a loop ramp in the northeast quadrant.  This alternative is similar to the conventional diamond with traffic signals but with the addition of a loop ramp. This parclo is uniquely configured to handle high northbound to westbound left turn volumes. Stop signs would be implemented in the short term with traffic signals planned for the long term. This alternative would not require an additional IL 47 over I‐88 bridge nor would it require any bridge widening.

23

Evaluate Alternatives

Identify Preferred

Alternative

Public Hearing

NEXT STEPS

Public Hearing Tentatively Scheduled for the Fall of 2017.

Following today’s milestone, the next steps of the study will be to further evaluate the alternatives to be carried forward and identify a preferred alternative.  The next public meeting will be a public hearing and is tentatively scheduled for the Fall of 2017.  At the hearing you will be able to provide comments on any aspect of the project and provide input on the preferred alternative.

24

IN THE NEXT ROOM

View Exhibits Meet the Project Study Team

Provide Input on Alternatives to be Carried

Forward

We want to hear from you. Please view the information on the exhibits in the adjoiningroom and meet the project study team.  Please provide input on the alternatives to be carried forward.  You may do so by completing comment forms, discussing with project team members, or by placing notes on the exhibits.  Comment forms may be completed and dropped in the box today, taken home and mailed, or sent to the email address provided. A postal and email address are included on each form. Comment Forms must be submitted by the Tuesday, April 11th deadline to be included for the public meeting record. 

25

COMMUNICATIONS

www.SugarGroveInterchange.org

Public Meetings and

Hearing

Community Advisory Group

Workshops

Press Releases

Agency Websites

The study team reaches a wide audience through many means of communication as there are many ways to get involved with the study. This includes public meetings and hearings, such as the meeting tonight. It also involves agency meetings, community advisory group workshops, and small group presentations. In addition, we reach out to the media and broadcast to the stakeholder’s and project websites.  The website address is included on all of the handouts available this evening.  If you did not sign in, please do so at this time.

26

Thank You!

The presentation will restart in 3 minutes

Thank you for attending today’s public information meeting and taking an active role in the planning process. Please continue your visit in the adjoining room. This presentation will begin again in 3 minutes.

27

Welcome!

The presentation will begin in 2 minutes

Thank you for attending today’s public information meeting and taking an active role in the planning process. This presentation will begin again in 2 minutes.

28

Welcome!

The presentation will begin in 1 minute

Thank you for attending today’s public information meeting and taking an active role in the planning process. This presentation will begin again in 1 minute.

29