Illiana Corridor progress

[Henry]

Sounds a lot like the Crosstown Expressway of old, which was cancelled in 1979, then revived in 2007, and hasn't had anything new since.

[silverback1065]

Purpose and need are important issues for an EIS and it is a national grassland which is important but.....the Illiana doesn't go through it so its a red hering P and N I think tied up 355 for a long time . I think the real motive here isn't the illiana its to prevent a revival of the Prairie Parkway and or an outer belt.....just a hunch

What is the Prairie Parkway?  I've not heard of this project

[NE2]

Purpose and need are important issues for an EIS and it is a national grassland which is important but.....the Illiana doesn't go through it so its a red hering P and N I think tied up 355 for a long time . I think the real motive here isn't the illiana its to prevent a revival of the Prairie Parkway and or an outer belt.....just a hunch

What is the Prairie Parkway?  I've not heard of this project

https://www.google.com/search?q=prairie+parkway

[3467]

http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/2040/priority-capital-projects

The PP and the connector to the Illiana are still alive at least legally and for hennery so is the Crosstown -its called the mid-city transityway. The only way they are actually alive is if the tollway does them but being on this list makes it possible for the tollway to do it.

[Revive 755]

CMAP is seeking public comment for adding the Illiana to the long range plan for Chicagoland:

http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/20583/1356626/IllianaV6--07-30-2013.pdf/4f71fb90-c416-4d3d-a771-ac819a20626a

[Rick Powell]

CMAP is seeking public comment for adding the Illiana to the long range plan for Chicagoland:

http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/20583/1356626/IllianaV6--07-30-2013.pdf/4f71fb90-c416-4d3d-a771-ac819a20626a

IDOT's response letter to the CMAP evaluation:
http://www.illianacorridor.org/pdfs/cmap_letter_secretaryschneider.pdf

Illiana news letter addressing CMAP:
http://www.illianacorridor.org/pdfs/IllianaFactSheet3_082613_FINAL_SinglePages.pdf

[Rick Powell]

The Illiana Corridor Alternatives Technical Memorandum is posted.

http://www.illianacorridor.org/information_center/articles/_idot_and_indot_95959.aspx

[Revive 755]

The Illiana Corridor Alternatives Technical Memorandum is posted.

http://www.illianacorridor.org/information_center/articles/_idot_and_indot_95959.aspx

* I really hope I'm not reading something right, but on Page 37 (or 41 using the numbering given by the browser) and on C-19 (178), interchange options at IL 53 are severely limited because IL 53 once carried a bannered route of US 66?  WTF?     Why the hell are more stoplights or new driveways allowed to be installed on IL 53 then?

* The report needs to keep interchange names straight and stop calling folded diamonds 'partial cloverleafs.  IL 59 at I-90 is a partial cloverleaf; IL 53 at US 14 and the design proposed for the Illiana at Wilton Center Road are folded diamonds.

[NE2]

* I really hope I'm not reading something right, but on Page 37 (or 41 using the numbering given by the browser) and on C-19 (178), interchange options at IL 53 are severely limited because IL 53 once carried a bannered route of US 66?  WTF?     Why the hell are more stoplights or new driveways allowed to be installed on IL 53 then?

It's probably the difference between federal and local funding. Federal funding is more restrictive as to impacts on historic properties.

[ET21]

4 hearings scheduled for the Illiana, on a proposed route from I-65 in NW Indiana to I-55 in south suburban Chicago

Link:
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local/indiana&id=9280698

[trafficsignal]

http://www.ibj.com/proposed-illiana-expressway-loses-key-vote/PARAMS/article/43969

Planning board calls for elimination of the Illiana after voting down the project 10-4.  The policy committee apparently can still approve the project for federal funding next week despite the vote.

[theline]

[T]he proposed $1.3 billion tollway south of Chicago into Indiana is "a highway in nowhere land."

Bennett is also mayor of Palos Hills. This quote confirms the opinion generally of Indiana held by Mr. Bennett's constituents.

[Henry]

http://www.ibj.com/proposed-illiana-expressway-loses-key-vote/PARAMS/article/43969

Planning board calls for elimination of the Illiana after voting down the project 10-4.  The policy committee apparently can still approve the project for federal funding next week despite the vote.

Which is either a shame or a victory, depending on who you ask.

[Brandon]

http://www.ibj.com/proposed-illiana-expressway-loses-key-vote/PARAMS/article/43969

Planning board calls for elimination of the Illiana after voting down the project 10-4.  The policy committee apparently can still approve the project for federal funding next week despite the vote.

Fuck the Cook County and Chicago members.  They're just pissy that the power in the region is shifting away from Chicago and outward toward us.

Build it anyway and fuck Chicago and fuck Rahm.

/rant

[silverback1065]

http://www.ibj.com/proposed-illiana-expressway-loses-key-vote/PARAMS/article/43969

Planning board calls for elimination of the Illiana after voting down the project 10-4.  The policy committee apparently can still approve the project for federal funding next week despite the vote.

Fuck the Cook County and Chicago members.  They're just pissy that the power in the region is shifting away from Chicago and outward toward us.

Build it anyway and fuck Chicago and fuck Rahm.

/rant

Go Tigers!

[Rick Powell]

The CMAP Policy Committee (the vote that counts) passed Illiana into the regional transportation plan tonight by an 11-8 vote.  A similar vote will be required by Lake County, IN's planning agency.  These votes are a necessary step before final federal project approval.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illiana-20131017,0,381773.story

[Revive 755]

If the Lake County, IN agency votes against the Illiana, would there still be enough viability for just I-55 to I-57 or to IL 1, with or without the third airport?  I'm guessing the presence of signs to I-57 on IL 53 indicate some demand for the movement.  The Illiana would also provide a nice bypass to for the current bridge work on I-55 at the Des Plaines River and any future work on I-80 through Joliet.

[Brandon]

The CMAP Policy Committee (the vote that counts) passed Illiana into the regional transportation plan tonight by an 11-8 vote.  A similar vote will be required by Lake County, IN's planning agency.  These votes are a necessary step before final federal project approval.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-illiana-20131017,0,381773.story

As well as it should be passed by them.  Chicago and Cook County can suck it.

I just don't see Lake County, Indiana voting against it.  They know, as well as we do, that it is a viable alternative to the Borman.

[silverback1065]

US 30 is a good alternate for the toll road between 65 and 69, think INDOT would ever consider upgrading 30? 

[Brandon]

US 30 is a good alternate for the toll road between 65 and 69, think INDOT would ever consider upgrading 30? 

US-30 is fine the way it is east of Merrillville.  It only really has problems with the signals in Merrillville, near Southlake.

No idea what US-30 has to do with the Illiana though.

[silverback1065]

US 30 is a good alternate for the toll road between 65 and 69, think INDOT would ever consider upgrading 30? 

US-30 is fine the way it is east of Merrillville.  It only really has problems with the signals in Merrillville, near Southlake.

No idea what US-30 has to do with the Illiana though.

The purpose of the Illiana is to decrease truck traffic on 80/94, US 30 could do the same east of 65

[theline]

I'm not a trucker, but have driven 30 on both sides of 65 with some frequency. I'd guess that truckers are loathe to take 30 because of the heavy traffic and concentration of stoplights. The exception of course are the truckers who must travel it to reach businesses along 30.

I'm not sure what kind of upgrade you propose, but anything that would benefit truckers would have to include eliminating most stoplights. The cost of that would be prohibitive. Grade separations and interchanges would require displacement of lots of businesses. It's a no-go.

[silverback1065]

I'm not a trucker, but have driven 30 on both sides of 65 with some frequency. I'd guess that truckers are loathe to take 30 because of the heavy traffic and concentration of stoplights. The exception of course are the truckers who must travel it to reach businesses along 30.

I'm not sure what kind of upgrade you propose, but anything that would benefit truckers would have to include eliminating most stoplights. The cost of that would be prohibitive. Grade separations and interchanges would require displacement of lots of businesses. It's a no-go.

Hey, it's just a thought.  I agree with the cost aspect though

[theline]

What makes more sense to me is to extend Illiana to the northeast from I-65 to hook up with 30, probably at SR-49. I'm pretty sure this was discussed upthread. That would permit trucks coming from points east on 30, 80/90, 94, and even US-6 to bypass the whole area when headed to points south on 55 or 57. I'm afraid I'm wandering into the fictional, since INDOT hasn't even studied the idea, AFAIK.

[Brandon]

What makes more sense to me is to extend Illiana to the northeast from I-65 to hook up with 30, probably at SR-49. I'm pretty sure this was discussed upthread. That would permit trucks coming from points east on 30, 80/90, 94, and even US-6 to bypass the whole area when headed to points south on 55 or 57. I'm afraid I'm wandering into the fictional, since INDOT hasn't even studied the idea, AFAIK.

Not as fictional as you think.  The original INDOT proposal had the Illiana ending at IN-49.  It was axed after opposition from people around Valpo.