The third round of Municipal Group meetings with Groups 2 & 3 was held at the Ela Township Library on July 13, 1999 and focused on the following topics:

• Introduction
• Overview of the Transportation System Performance Report
• Purpose and Need
• Alternatives Development Process
• Preliminary Alternative Components
• Comments
• Upcoming Activities

David Lutyens welcomed representatives to the meeting and provided an overview of the meeting agenda and the evening’s program. He provided an overview of the last Municipal Group meeting, including a discussion of the key findings from the Transportation System Performance Report.

Larry Martin/CH2M HILL explained the purpose and need for the project, and the four key needs for the project. These are (1) improve north-south travel capacity and efficiency; (2) improve regional and local route options; (3) improve safety; and (4) improve the effectiveness of modal choices. He explained how the needs were developed from the results of the transportation system performance report, and then discussed how each of these need statements played a role in development of the alternatives.

Next, Larry described how the transportation improvements for Lake County were being developed for this project. He explained that an alternative would be comprised of roadway, rail, bus and transportation management strategies. The improvements will first be developed separately for each mode. He explained that today’s presentation would focus on the roadway and transit improvements that have been identified.

Larry described the roadway components that have been developed for this project. He explained that the roadway components were developed from one of five starting points: I-94; IL 83/US 45; IL 53; IL 120 and US 12. He then described the 9 roadway alternative components that were developed from these starting points, their associated congestion relief and the route miles of improvement that would be necessary to complete each scenario.

Larry then reviewed the Alternatives Development and Evaluation Process, noting that the project team is at the Alternatives Development stage right now. Larry explained that there were four fundamental elements considered prior to developing/modeling alternatives. These included: (1) baseline improvements; (2) project baseline (no-action) forecasts; (3) the benchmark level of performance desired; and (4) evaluation criteria. Each of these was explained.

Larry indicated that the five starting points were selected because they are regional in character, embrace the areas with the most congestion, and are roadways with continuity through the project area. He used I-94 as an example for showing how the modeling process was used to develop the roadway alternatives, and how routes were selected to form a roadway component alternative. It was also demonstrated how each roadway contributed to achieving the 2020 RTP benchmark (using systemwide delay and average speed).

Joanne Schroeder/Vlecides-Schroeder Associates then explained the process for development of potential transit enhancements. The transit development process was described, including inventorying the existing system, and coordinating with service providers. Transit components were developed by reviewing the existing transit system and the current program, and then identifying additional potential improvements. She then discussed a series of rail and bus transit slides which illustrated the existing transit system; the improvements identified in the project baseline; and other potential improvements including bus corridors with opportunities for intermodal connections. Joanne then described the next steps for the transit components.

The floor was opened for comments. Following is a summary of the comments received.

How will the Illinois First program affect this project?

Have the communities along route 22 been notified of the proposed improvement along Route 22?

David Lutyens explained the questionnaire that had been developed for Municipal Group representatives on the alternative development process. He requested that Municipal Group representatives complete the questionnaires and return them by July 30, 1999 to the LCTIP office.

Dave Lutyens noted that there a series of public informational meetings, has been scheduled for late August. Information on the specific times and dates will be mailed to representatives in the near future.

The meeting concluded at 8:00 p.m.