The Project Will Provide a Transportation Facility That Will Provide Improved Safety, Capacity, and Facility Conditions
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The project will provide a transportation facility that will provide improved safety, capacity, and facility conditions. It meets the project’s purpose and need. SECTION IV: IMPACTS, DOCUMENTATION AND MITIGATION General The project area was inventoried for environmental resources. The Environmental Resources Map, Exhibit 5, identifies all sensitive cultural, natural, physical, and socio-economic resources, in the study area. Resources potentially impacted by the proposed action or that require discussion pursuant to applicable laws and regulations are addressed in this Section. The affected resources and the mitigation proposed are discussed by environmental discipline. Evaluation of the project area determined that the following environmental issues and resources are not involved: agricultural, natural resources, water resources and aquatic habitats, groundwater, floodplains, wetlands, special lands, and Section 4(f) lands and are therefore not discussed further in this report. Part I. Socio-economic 1. Community Characteristics and Cohesion Community Characteristics and Cohesion The project study team reviewed U.S. Bureau of the Census data from 2000 and 2011 estimates to determine community characteristics. In most cases, critical information and data from the 2011 estimates were used. However, in some cases, 2000 Census data was referenced to draw a comparison to the 2011 estimates. The data is divided into four geographic groups: the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of Chicago and the project area. The project area is represented by the eight census tracts that are located in whole or in part of the project limits. Thus, the project area for census purposes is larger than the project limits described in the Purpose and Need. Exhibit 6 shows the location of the census tracts defined below: . Census Tract 833000 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Kinzie Street on the north, Madison Street on the south, Halsted Street on the east and Ashland Avenue on the west. Census Tract 280100 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Kinzie Street on the north, Madison Street on the south, the Chicago River on the east and Halsted Street on the west. Census Tract 833100 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Madison Street on the north, Van Buren Street on the south, Halsted Street on the east and Ashland Avenue on the west. Census Tract 281900 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Madison Street on the north, Van Buren Street on the south, the Chicago River on the east and Halsted Street on the west. Census Tract 833300 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Van Buren Street on the north, Roosevelt Road on the south, Morgan Street on the east and Racine Avenue on the west. Census Tract 283800 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Roosevelt Road on the north, 16th Street on the south, Morgan Street on the east and Racine Avenue on the west. Census Tract 841900 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Van Buren Street on the north, 16th Street on the south, the Chicago River on the east and Morgan Street on the west. Census Tract 832900 – within the City of Chicago, generally bordered by Van Buren Street on the north, Polk Street on the south, Racine Avenue on the east, and Ashland Avenue on the west. Population According to a U. S. Census estimate, the population of the State of Illinois was 12,790,182 in 2011. This represents a 2.99 percent increase from the State’s 2000 population of 12,419,293 (See Table 12). In contrast, the population of Cook County dropped from 5,376,741 in 2000 to 5,182,969 in 2011; a decline of 3.60 percent. During the same Printed 6/11/2013 Page 31 of 70 timeframe, the population of the City of Chicago declined by 6.74 percent. Within the project area, the population was estimated to be 27,781 in 2011 – a growth of over 72 percent from 2000. Table 12 Population Change (2000 to 2011)11 Database State of Illinois Cook County City of Chicago Project Area Census 2000 12,419,293 5,376,741 2,896,016 17,516 Census ACS 2011 12,790,182 5,182,969 2,700,741 27,781 Change (Number) +370,889 -193,772 -195,275 +12,719 Change (Percent) +2.99% -3.60% -6.74% +72.61% Age In 2011 the estimated median age for the State of Illinois was 36.4 years of age; the median age for Cook County was 35.2 years of age; the City of Chicago was 33.0 years of age; and the project area was 30.9 years of age (See Table 13). In this case, the smaller the geographic area, the younger the median age. Table 13 Age Distribution12 Age Group State of Illinois Cook County City of Chicago Project Area Under 10 13.3% 13.0% 13.1% 5.9% 10 to 19 14.1% 13.6% 13.2% 7.3% 20 to 64 60.1% 61.5% 63.4% 81.5% 65 and over 12.4% 11.9% 10.4% 5.2% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% Median Age 36.4 35.2 33.0 30.9 Home Ownership and Occupancy In 2011, 68.7 percent of Illinois residents owned and occupied their home. Cook County had a lesser rate at 59.8 percent, and the City of Chicago even less at 47.0 percent. However, the project area had an owner-occupancy rate of 63.6 percent (See Table 14). Table 14 Home Ownership and Occupancy13 Occupancy Status State of Illinois Cook County City of Chicago Project Area Owner-Occupied 68.7% 59.8% 47.0% 63.6% Non Owner- 31.3% 40.2% 53.0% 36.4% Occupied Total 100% 100% 100% 100% Income and Poverty Table 15 presents income data and poverty data for the State of Illinois, Cook County, the City of Chicago, and the project area. The median income for the State of Illinois was $56,576; Cook County was slightly less at $54,598; the City of Chicago was less at $47,371. However, the project area was much higher than the other three geographical areas at $88,903. The 2011 U.S. Census estimate shows that 9.6 percent of Illinois citizens fell into poverty status within the past 12 months. The rate was higher in Cook County at 12.3 percent and higher still in the City of Chicago at 17.6 percent. However, the rate was much less for the project area at only 6.6 percent. 11 Source: U.S. Census 2000 Decennial Census and U.S. Census, American Community Survey, 2011 5-Year Period Estimate 12 Source: U.S. Census, American Community Survey, 2011 5-Year Period Estimate 13 Ibid Printed 6/11/2013 Page 32 of 70 Table 15 Income and Poverty Income and Poverty Data State of Cook City of Project Illinois County Chicago Area 1999 Median Household Income $46,590 $45,922 $38,625 $50,227 (1999 dollars)14 1999 Median Household 15 $62,897 $61,995 $52,144 $67,806 Income (2011 dollars) 2011 Median Household Income $56,576 $54,598 $47,371 $88,903 (2011 dollars)16 Poverty Status, Percent below 9.6% 12.3% 17.6% 6.6% level17 Race and Ethnicity Table 16 presents a comparison of the 2011 racial composition of the State of Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago along with the project area. With the exception of the City of Chicago (44.9 percent white), the majority of the population within each entity was white in 2011. The State of Illinois is comprised of 72.0 percent white population, followed by 14.5 percent black or African American population and 6.8 percent of some other race. The composition of Cook County includes 55.2 percent white population, 24.9 percent black or African American population and 11.6 percent of some other race. The City of Chicago includes 44.9 percent white population, 17.7 percent of black or African American population and 13.9 percent Asian population. Table 16 Racial Composition18 Race State of Cook City of Project Illinois County Chicago Area White 72.0% 55.2% 44.9% 64.1% Black or African American 14.5% 24.9% 33.4% 16.6% American Indian or Alaskan Native 0.2% 0.2% 0.3% 0.3% Asian 4.6% 6.2% 5.4% 14.6% Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific < 0.1% < 0.1% < 0.1% < 0.1% Islander Some Other Race 6.8% 11.6% 14.2% 2.0% Two or More Races 1.8% 1.8% 1.8% 2.4% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% The U.S. Census has two minimum categories for ethnicity: Hispanic or Latino and Not Hispanic or Latino. The federal government considers race and Hispanic origin to be two separate and distinct concepts. Hispanics and Latinos may be of any race. Table 17 presents a comparison of the ethnic composition of the State of Illinois, Cook County, and the City of Chicago and census tracts within the project study area. In 2011 the State of Illinois had an estimated population that was 15.5 percent Hispanic or Latino people; Cook County had a 23.6 percent population; the City of Chicago had a 28.1 percent population. Comparatively, the project area had a much less population of Hispanic or Latino population at 3.7 percent. 14 Source: 2000 U.S. Census 15 Source: http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm 16 Source: U.S. Census, American Community Survey, 2011 5-Year Period Estimate 17 Ibid 18 Ibid Printed 6/11/2013 Page 33 of 70 Table 17 Ethnic Composition19 Occupancy Status State of Cook City of Project Illinois County Chicago Area Hispanic or Latino 12.3% 18.3% 20.9% 3.7% Not Hispanic or Latino 87.7% 81.7% 79.1% 96.3% Total 100% 100% 100% 100% Community Cohesion The Circle Interchange and its interstate facilities are existing roadway facilities that travels through the project area.