Municipal Group 1 Meeting #1 - May 20, 1998
 
MEETING SUMMARY  
The first meeting of Municipal Group #1 was held at the Libertyville Village Hall on May 20, 1998 at 7:30 A.M. The following municipalities were invited to attend:  
  • Village of Buffalo Grove  
  • Village of Grayslake  
  • Village of Gurnee  
  • Village of Hawthorn Woods  
  • Village of Indian Creek  
  • Village of Kildeer  
  • Village of Libertyville  
  • Village of Long Grove  
  • Village of Mundelein  
  • Village of Third Lake  
  • Village of Vernon Hills  
  • City of Rolling Meadows  
  • Village of Palatine  
  • Village of Schaumburg  
  • Village of Arlington Heights  
  • Village of Prospect Heights  
  • Village of Wheeling  
  • City of Des Plaines  
  • Village of Hoffman Estates  
This meeting focused on the following topics:  
  • Overview of the project process and schedule  
  • Overview of the public involvement program  
  • Selection of the Municipal Group representative to the Technical Advisory Group  
  • Findings from the project focus groups  
  • Discussion of transportation issues  
  • Next Steps  
The project team provided an overview of the project process and schedule, including a discussion on the role and responsibilities of the representatives and the importance of Municipal Group representation.  The public involvement program—intended to provide opportunities for groups and individuals to contribute to the decision-making process—was also discussed.  The modes of participation for the general public, interest groups, and policy/technical/regulatory leaders were specified.   

The opportunity to provide technical input—through the Technical Advisory Group (TAG)—was also outlined.  After defining the role and responsibilities of the TAG representative and qualifications for TAG membership, the attending municipal officials chose to defer selection of a TAG representative and an alternate, as some municipalities did not have a representative present.  The group decided to have interested individuals submit a resume for consideration by the group.  The LCTIP team agreed to facilitate the selection of a TAG representative.  
The findings from focus groups were presented, including perceptions of major transportation problems in the county. The project team then solicited comments from the municipal representatives on what they believed were significant transportation issues.  The municipal representatives* voiced the following concerns during this exercise:  

  • Improve the Northwest Tollway to Elgin  
  • Move forward with the improvement of a commuter line on the EJ&E  for interconnectivity of the suburb-to-suburb commute  
  • Put in a full interchange at Barrington Road and the Tollway to assist in distributing traffic  
  • Develop a system/regional program to address transportation issues  
  • Protect the system from breaking down  
  • Expand IL 22, then make improvements to US 45  
  • Some modes will not be able to address the transportation problems; some modes require careful consideration like bicycle and pedestrian facilities  
  • Promote home-based business opportunities  
  • Expand Metra’s service on the North Central Service and provide commuter service on the EJ&E  
  • Implement IL 120 bypass and improvements  
  • Improve IL 22  
  • Alleviate congestion at Lake Cook Road due to termination of IL 53  
  • Improve traffic signal interconnection  
  • Improve Wieland Road to Buffalo Grove Road  
  • Expand the North Central commuter line to dual tracks  
  • Fund Prairie Road/IL 22 request for right turn access  
  • Alleviate congestion at Wieland Road/Pauline Road  
  • Alleviate reliance on cut-through routes that exist due to congestion on IL 22  
  • Coordinate more effectively between state, county and local transportation agencies  
  • Expand IL 22 from US 12 to I-94 to a 4-lane system  
  • Expand the North Central commuter line to dual tracks  
  • Provide park-and-ride/bus connections to commercial and office park centers  
  • Add a right-turn lane westbound on Lake Cook Road at IL 53/Hicks Road.  
  • Add a double left-turn lane southbound on IL 53  
  • Add a double left-turn lane eastbound on Lake Cook Road at Arlington Heights Road  
  • Add a double right-turn lane westbound at U.S. 12 and Lake Cook Road  
  • Expand Routes 83 and 60 west of Route 83 to Ivanhoe  
  • Expand the EJ& E rail line to include commuter service  
  • Make public transportation more attractive by providing incentives, like time savings or tax credits  
  • Generate economic/employment opportunities in Lake County from Wisconsin State Line to Great Lakes  
  • Continue to promote Pace Vanpool Program  
  • Improve East/West Corridors—I-294 and IL 83.  Need an entrance to I-294.  
Project activities that will be taking place over the next six months (illustrated on a display board) were discussed.  At the conclusion of the meeting, the project team thanked the municipal group representatives for their comments and suggestions, as they are important for the project’s success.  The project team notified the representatives that there would be similar meetings in the future, and encouraged the municipal representatives to attend.  

The floor was then opened to the public for comments.  One individual asked why the project has been going on for six months and there has not been an opportunity for public comment and input. The project team explained that there is an extensive public involvement program planned for this project.  They explained that the project is in the start-up stages, and input from the general public is planned following the formation of the Municipal Groups, and the Technical Advisory Group.  The project team explained that part of this presentation was intended to provide an overview of the public involvement program and opportunities for the general public to get involved, for example through the project website, project newsletter, public information meetings and hearings and the project office.  The public will also have an opportunity to provide comments at the end of Municipal Group and Technical Advisory Group meetings.  
 
* The representative for the Village of Hoffman Estates attended the meeting for Municipal Group #6 on 5/22/98, due to scheduling conflicts.  Because the village is a member of Municipal Group #1, for the sake of clarity,  his concerns have been listed here to group similar geography specific comments.