KDOT Sets Aug. 30 Public Hearing For Longmeadow Parkway Environmental Assessment Re-evaluation
After extensive data analysis and evaluation, the Kane County Division of Transportation has published an Environmental Assessment re-evaluation for the Longmeadow Parkway Bridge Corridor.
The EA has been prepared to assess impacts of the changes in the project area, new information and new circumstances that arose after issuance of the 2002 Record of Decision and the 2009 written re-evaluation. The EA re-evaluated changes in impacts within the project area, including, socio-economic, agricultural, historic properties, air quality, Section 4(f) resources, noise, natural resources, water quality, groundwater, floodplains, wetlands, special waste and special lands.
The EA was made available for public review and comment on July 29, 2016, on this page of the KDOT website. The document also is available at select local libraries and villages located within the study area as well as the KDOT office, 41W011 Burlington Road, St. Charles. A complete listing of these locations can be found on the project website.
On that page is a link to a public notice inviting residents to a public hearing and open house on Aug. 30. Another link on that page (above the documents list) invites interested parties to submit comments via e-mail. Comments received through Sept. 6, 2016, will become part of the public hearing record.
Longmeadow Parkway is a 5.6-mile, tree-lined parkway between Huntley Road/Boyer Road and Illinois Route 62, with a new bridge crossing over the Fox River in Kane County. In addition to the 5.6 mile parkway, KDOT will make another 3.7 miles of intersecting road improvements.
Public Hearing Set for Aug. 30
A Public Hearing will be held in an open-house format from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, at the Holiday Inn Chicago Northwest/Elgin, 495 Airport Road, Elgin. A public forum will begin at 6 p.m., at which time participants will have two minutes to publicly provide their statement to a court reporter.
Interested persons may attend any time during that four-hour period and will have the opportunity to view an audio-visual presentation, review exhibits and provide comments on the EA re-evaluation. Those attending may also speak one-on-one with study team representatives.
“Kane County Division of Transportation has held close to 100 public meetings since we’ve been working on this project,” said KDOT Director Carl Schoedel. “The study team and stakeholders have worked tirelessly to make this project a reality. We would not be where we are today without the partnerships and the input we have received from everyone.”
Schoedel said Kane County has been one of the fastest growing counties in northwest Illinois and has seen increased congestion and travel delays, resulting in negative impacts to local neighborhoods and streets.
The KDOT news release says Longmeadow Parkway will address existing /future traffic needs and reduce existing/projected area congestion. The project addresses both existing safety/capacity needs and is a long term endeavor to meet area traffic needs beyond the year 2040.
Project Benefits
The KDOT news release lists the following benefits of the LMP project:
- Thousands of local jobs will be supported with the investments being made in Longmeadow Parkway, benefiting the people living and working in the region.
- The improvements will create a safer environment for the motoring public by creating a new, direct route for emergency responders and decrease congestion and accidents on IL Route 62 and IL Route 72.
- Reduced vehicle idle time will save on fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- The LMP will improve accessibility to existing businesses in Algonquin and Carpentersville, thereby increasing desirability to shop in downtown business districts.
- An additional 11,530 high-quality native trees will be planted. For every removed tree, many of which are in poor health or dead, two will be planted.
- The LMP supports sustainable features such as open spaces, greenways, recreation, water quality, wildlife and utilities.
- A multi-use path will be built along the entire roadway and over the Fox River and connect to a regional trail.
SOURCE: KDOT news release
