Grundy County Transportation Priorities 2013
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 1
Contents Case Statement ...... 3 Summary of Projects ...... 5 High Impact Regional Projects Map ...... 7 Transportation Priorities Map ...... 8 Project Details ...... 9 Roads ...... 9 Air ...... 11 Rail ...... 11 Water ...... 11 Regional Maps Overview ...... 12 IDOT FY 2014-2019 Highway Improvement Program – Grundy County ...... 16 2009 IDOT Grundy County Average Daily Traffic Count ...... 18 Selected Road Impacts & Benefits ...... 20 Illinois Route 47 ...... 24 Illinois Route 113 ...... 26 Ridge Road ...... 27 US Route 6 ...... 29 Brisbin Road Interchange ...... 31 Interstate 80 ...... 33 Illiana Expressway ...... 35 Prairie Parkway...... 41 Rail Priorities ...... 45 Rail Dominance in Illinois ...... 47 Waterway Priorities ...... 55 Illinois River ...... 56 Air Priorities ...... 60 Morris Municipal Airport ...... 61 Appendix: Full Sized Maps ...... 62
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 2
Grundy County Transportation Priorities
Case Statement
Over the course of the last two decades, Grundy County has experienced significant growth in both its economy and population. As these changes have come to the area, existing transportation infrastructure has been extensively challenged. In the interest of maintaining an environment that is supportive of attraction and retention of key industries, and ensuring a high quality of life for both the residents and those who work and travel in Grundy County, the time has come to generate a comprehensive and strategic set of transportation priorities for the County. Priorities Plan Goals:
1. Demonstrate to elected officials and policy makers the need for a high level of state and federal priority for Grundy County transportation planning and projects; 2. Serve as a repository for transportation priorities in Grundy County; 3. Create transparent priorities and goals that are easily visible to the residents of Grundy County and the region in the interest of encouraging input and collaboration; 4. Raise awareness of existing and planned projects among municipal and county leaders to promote collaborative efforts across local governmental agencies; 5. Actively seek to include all external projects affecting Grundy County, including those at the state, federal, and local levels; and 6. Develop a mechanism for prioritizing the management and development of current and future transportation projects affecting Grundy County.
Growing Public Transportation Need:
The tri-county region was the fastest growing area in the state during the last 10 years, ranking 1-2-3 in percentage population growth (Kendall-110%; Will-35%; Grundy-33%)
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 3
Between 2000 and 2010, the same region added 248,000 residents, and the regional population density increased from 376 persons per square mile in 2000 to 534 in 2010 Total employment for the region increased 36% over the same period, rising from 229,000 to 311,000 jobs, increasing the commuter demand on local roads In the period from 2001 to 2011, the Grundy-Kendall-Will region experienced a 75% increase in transportation and warehousing jobs, from 9,791 in 2001 to 17,108 in 2011
Growing Industry Transportation Need:
Transportation, Logistics and Warehousing continues to be a prime industrial growth engine for both Grundy County and the region. The regional 75% increase in jobs in this industry over the last decade has created increased pressure on current transportation systems. The attractiveness of the area for this industry indicates that continuing high levels of growth should be anticipated in the medium term. Future growth is expected to increase in this industry within the county, creating additional road and rail transport needs. Existing multimodal projects and future growth in neighboring Will County are generating and will continue to generate high roadway usage in eastern Grundy County and corridors surrounding that area. The current and planned intermodal terminals within Will County will drive significant vehicle presence on our roadways. Increasing rail volumes in the Chicago region provide opportunity for growth in Grundy County, and a need to capitalize on existing and proposed rail projects.
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 4
Grundy County Transportation Priorities Summary of Projects
State Road Projects
1. Illinois Route 47 expansion north of I-80 to Caton Farm Road 2. Illinois Route 113 capacity expansion and rail separation at BNSF railroad 3. U.S. Route 6 capacity expansion from Route 47 to Saratoga Road 4. Study impact of new Brisbin Road/I-80 interchange on U.S. Route 6 5. Illiana Expressway route planning and construction 6. Illinois Route 47 widening feasibility study from Southmor Road to I-55 7. Interstate 55 widening to six lanes Gardner to Will County line 8. Interstate 80 capacity expansion west of Ridge Road to Illinois Route 47 9. Interstate 80 Ridge Road to Route 30 Project 10. Prairie Parkway
Local Road Projects
11. Ridge Road widening Minooka Road to McEvilly Road including widening of CN viaduct 12. Ridge Road widening from McEvilly Road to U.S. Route 6 13. Brisbin Road corridor north from I-80 into Kendall County 14. Reed Road development in the Villages of Coal City and Braidwood (I-55 to Broadway Road) 15. Dupont Road reconstruction near the Village of Seneca 16. Broadway Street reconstruction in the Village of Coal City 17. McClindon Road reconstruction in the Village of Minooka
Local Aviation Projects
18. Morris Airport runway extension to 5500 feet 19. Installation of navigational aids and PAPI lights 20. Additional of a minimum 4000-foot cross runway
Rail Projects
21. Seneca I-80 Railport 22. Providence Logistics 23. Passenger rail extension from Joliet to LaSalle County 24. High-speed rail for Chicago to St. Louis route
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 5
Waterway Projects
25. Modernization of the Illinois River lock system 26. Expanded river port utilization on the Illinois River in the EDPA
*List compiled based on interviews with the County of Grundy, City of Morris, Villages of Channahon, Coal City, Diamond, Dwight, Mazon and Minooka.
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 6
High Impact Regional Projects Map
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 7
Transportation Priorities Map
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 8
Project Details Roads Route 47
Phase 2 Engineering 2012 – North of Interstate 80 to Caton Farm Road Construction 2013 – North of Interstate 80 to Caton Farm Road Feasibility Study – South of Southmor Road to Interstate 55 Develop county- and municipal-level collaborative control of setbacks along Route 47 for corridor protection
Illiana Expressway
Continue to support the development of the project as an important east-west alternative to I-80 between I-55 in Illinois and I-65 in Indiana Advocate for route options meeting I-55 near IL-129
Interstate 80
Ridge Road to Route 30 project currently underway to review widening options Ridge Road to Route 47 widening for future commercial growth
Route 113
Capacity increase from Interstate 55 west to Carbon Hill Road Intersection improvements and signalization in Diamond Rail overpass/underpass at 1st Ave. in Coal City
Interstate 55
Capacity increase to six lanes from Route 47 in Dwight to the Will County line, joining capacity increase projects to the north State projects include engineering from Gardner to Will County line
Route 6
Widening and reconstruction to 4 lanes through Morris from Route 47 to Saratoga Road Review traffic impacts of the Brisbin I-80 interchange on Route 6 from Route 47 to Ridge Road
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 9
Prairie Parkway
Will benefit county by creating a link to western suburbs
Ridge Road
Stage 1: Widening from Minooka Road/Mondamin Street south to McEvilly Road Stage 1: Rail bridge reconstruction to accommodate widening Stage 2: Widen Ridge Road from McEvilly Road to U.S. Route 6
Brisbin Road
Develop a corridor for north/south travel from the new Interstate 80 interchange north into Kendall County including Sherril and Grove Roads
Reed Road
Develop the area around the Reed Road interchange with Interstate 55 to accommodate new commercial growth Study growth impacts on Reed Road from I-55 to Broadway Street
Dupont Road
Reconstruction near Seneca at the Orica site to encourage redevelopment
Broadway Street
Continue planning a development for Broadway reconstruction both north and south of Illinois Route 113 from Spring Road to North Street in the Village of Coal City
McClindon Road
Designate as a truck route and reconstruct to accommodate commercial traffic in lieu of using Ridge and Minooka Roads
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 10
Air Morris Municipal Airport
Runway expansion to 5500 ft. in 2012 Nav Aids and PAPI lights in 2013 Minimum 4000-foot cross runway for future growth to class C2 airport
Rail Private Development Projects
Providence Logistics project in the Village of Coal City Seneca I-80 Railport multimodal business park development
Public Development Projects
Extension of passenger rail service on the Rock Island line from Joliet through Grundy County to LaSalle County Completion of the Chicago to St. Louis high speed rail network, with construction of the Dwight to Joliet segment, including the portions in Grundy County in 2012 Water Private Development Projects
Develop dock areas of Illinois River in EDPA 2 Utilize and develop dock areas of Illinois River in western Grundy County near Seneca
Public Development Projects
Create a modern lock system on the Illinois River beyond the current system of seven 600-foot locks to allow more efficient freight passage and encourage greater river commerce
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 11
Regional Maps Overview
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 12
Northeast Region
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 13
Northwest Region
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 14
Southeast Region
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 15
IDOT FY 2014-2019 Highway Improvement Program – Grundy County Route/Street Location Improvements Est. Cost MYP Years
Resurfacing, 1.5 miles S of IL-17 to 1.2 Patching, Bridge 2015 to I-55 miles N of IL-47 at Dwight; Repair, Bridge $13,600,000 2019 Miles = 6.75 New Deck, Culvert Repair
Gardner to Will County line 2015 to I-55 Resurfacing $13,400,000 (Reed Road); Miles = 6.84 2019
Bridge 2015 to I-80 Lisbon Road $2,800,000 Replacement, P.E. 2019
Under Minooka Road (CH Bridge I-80 $6,300,000 2014 16) 1 mile W of Minooka Replacement
Bridge Mazon River .3 miles E of 2015 to Spring Road Replacement, $856,000 Campbell Rd 2019 Engineering
Minooka Bridge At I-80 $1,740,000 2014 Road Replacement
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 16
Bridge Total project from I-80 to 2015 to Route 47 Replacement, $95,900,000 Caton Farm Road 2019 Additional Lanes
Additional Lanes, Part 1 of above project Land Acquisitions Route 47 $41,100,000 2014 I-80 to Sherrill Road Bridge Replacement
W. Mondamin Street Widening and 2015 to Ridge Road $2,500,000 McEvilly Road Resurfacing 2019
Bridge Under CN RR 0.4 miles E. Replacement, 2015 to I-80 $5,000,000 of Minooka Interchange RR Separation, 2019 Rehab
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 17
2009 IDOT Grundy County Average Daily Traffic Count On From To Count Interstate 055 I 055 ILL 047 19,900 Interstate 055 ILL 047 GARDNER RD 21,400 Interstate 055 GARDNER RD I 55 EXPY 21,700 Interstate 080 DIVISION ST RIDGE RD 38,500 Illinois 047 SHERRIL RD GRANVILLE RD 7,300 Illinois 047 GRANVILLE RD NEW (UNNAMED) ST ENTR 7,000 Illinois 047 NEW (UNNAMED) ST ENTR GORE RD 8,300 Division St GORE RD I 080 14,900 Division St I 080 GREEN ACRES DR. 21,300 US 006 GREEN ACRES DR. GEORGE ST 27,700 US 006 GEORGE ST BEDFORD 28,400 Division St BEDFORD HIGH ST 23,300 Division St HIGH ST BENTON ST. 20,100 Division St BENTON ST. JEFFERSON ST. ND Division St JEFFERSON ST. ILLINOIS ST 19,000 Division St ILLINOIS ST PINE BLUFF RD 20,500 Illinois 047 PINE BLUFF RD SOUTHMOR RD 13,800 Illinois 047 SOUTHMOR RD DUPONT RD 11,500 Illinois 047 DUPONT RD LOWERY RD 10,800 Illinois 047 LOWERY RD GRAND RIDGE RD 7,300 Illinois 047 GRAND RIDGE RD SOUTH ST 4,400 Illinois 047 SOUTH ST GARDNER RD 4,050 Illinois 047 GARDNER RD GOODFARM RD 3,600 Illinois 047 GOODFARM RD I 055 4,100 Illinois 047 I 055 NORTHBROOK 8,100 Illinois 047 NORTHBROOK 3300N RD 6,300 US 006 JACKSON ST MARSEILLES RD 3,650 Illinois 053 GARDNER RD MAIN ST 2,500 Illinois 053 MAIN ST FAS 0298 2,300 Illinois 053 FAS 0298 CAMPUS RD 1,800 Parker St CAMPUS RD STORM RD 900 Illinois 053 STORM RD MAIN RD 1,700 Illinois 053 MAIN RD CARBON HILL RD 1,950 Illinois 053 CARBON HILL RD MITCHELL ST 1,650 Illinois 053 MITCHELL ST TR 125A 1,250 Illinois 053 TR 125A IL-53 1,350 US 006 MARSEILLES RD FAS 296 AT FAU 5952 3,750
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 18
US 006 GUN CLUB RD (N) BRISBIN RD 6,800 Illinois 113 LOWERY RD JUGTOWN RD 5,400 Illinois 113 JUGTOWN RD VIRGINIA ST 6,200 Division St VIRGINIA ST BROADWAY ST 8,500 Division St BROADWAY ST LINCOLN ST 11,600 Division St LINCOLN ST MCARDLE RD 11,800 Division St MCARDLE RD ILL 113 12,100 US 006 BRISBIN RD TABLER RD (E) 6,000 US 006 TABLER RD (E) RIDGE RD 6,700 US 006 RIDGE RD BELL RD 11,200 US 006 DIVISION ST BRISCOE DR 7,200 US 006 BRISCOE DR ASHLEY RD 7,600 US 006 ASHLEY RD ROAD 7,200 US 006 ROAD SUSAN STREET 6,600 US 006 SUSAN STREET GUN CLUB RD (N) 6,000 US 006 FAS 296 AT FAU 5952 SARATOGA RD 3,850 US 006 SARATOGA RD CNTRY CLUB ENTR. 4,850 US 006 CNTRY CLUB ENTR. EDGEWATER DR (S) 5,300 US 006 EDGEWATER DR (S) LAKEWOOD DR 9,200 US 006 LAKEWOOD DR PARK ST. 10,100 US 006 PARK ST. UNION ST 13,300 US 006 UNION ST LISBON ST 13,300 Bedford St LISBON ST DIVISION ST 13,400 *Most recent official count as of 5/2013. Data courtesy IDOT.
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 19
Grundy County Transportation Priorities
Selected Road Impacts & Benefits
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 20
Growth in Grundy County Traffic
Regional Annual Vehicle Miles Traveled
Place 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 5-year Growth
Will County 5,328,498,333 5,687,814,155 5,712,374,976 5,655,514,075 5,662,741,254 6.3%
Grundy County 671,560,642 695,289,942 677,731,080 691,512,622 708,197,064 5.5%
Kankakee County 933,882,003 963,211,030 944,911,934 964,452,885 969,878,449 3.9%
Kendall County 770,026,214 784,750,781 768,463,777 782,129,169 763,274,816 -0.9%
Illinois Total 106,812,529,371 107,403,168,918 105,636,173,601 105,734,665,833 105,742,171,123 -1.0%
LaSalle County 1,414,090,701 1,414,449,438 1,374,557,497 1,367,674,298 1,379,779,063 -2.4%
Livingston County 572,039,589 568,489,325 550,488,102 552,850,506 552,225,994 -3.5%
Source: IDOT Illinois Travel Statistics 2010
Will and Grundy Counties ranked 2nd and 3rd of the 102 counties in Illinois in annual vehicle miles traveled growth over the period from 2006 to 2010. A majority of the counties in Illinois actually saw declines in total traffic counts, as did the State as a whole.
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 21
Regional Growth in Truck Traffic
Average Daily Long-Haul Freight Truck Traffic Average Daily Long-Haul Freight Truck Traffic
2007 2040
Source: USDOT, FHWA, Office of Freight Management and Operations Freight Analysis Framework
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 22
Grundy County at the Crossroads
2007 Tonnage on Highways, Railroads, and Inland Waterways
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 23
Illinois Route 47
Economic Benefits
The competitive advantage for Grundy County lies in the strength of its transportation system, and easy access to both interstate highways from an expanded Route 47 will help solidify and expand on that advantage.
The importance of Route 47 extends well beyond the borders of Grundy County. Route 47 is also a high-growth corridor in Kendall County to the north and Livingston County to the south. Route 47 is a major commercial corridor for Yorkville, Morris, Mazon, and Dwight in the region.
Route 47 also provides a vital link throughout the far western suburbs, with connections at I-90 in northern Kane County, I-88 in southern Kane, I-80 in northern Grundy, I-55 on the Grundy/Livingston County border, and I-74 and I-72 near Champaign, the latter of which represents the southern terminus of Route 47.
The expanded Route 47 will also lay the groundwork for an expansion of industry in central and southern Grundy County, areas that have not benefitted from the recent growth experienced in the northern and northeastern portions of the county. The combination of access to major highways and affordable property will establish a strong platform for economic growth and job creation in the area.
Route 47 expansion has garnered significant support from both the private and public sector throughout the County’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy planning process and during project identification process while preparing this document. Letters of support and/or resolutions of support are on file from:
Public Sector Private Sector City of Morris Duke Realty County of Grundy Greater Livingston County Economic Development Grundy County Sheriff Grundy Economic Development Council Illinois Department of Transportation Grainco FS Village of Mazon Morris Municipal Airport Village of Dwight Prologis Grundy County Farm Bureau
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 24
Strategic Impact
The expansion of Illinois Route 47 to four lanes throughout Grundy County has been identified as a critically important project for the region. Route 47 provides an essential transportation corridor, passing through the county from north to south along its center line, passing through the communities of Morris, Mazon, and Dwight and linking Grundy to Kendall County in the north and Livingston County to the south. Moreover, Route 47 is the link between the two interstate highways that pass through the county, meeting Interstate 80 in Morris and Interstate 55 in Dwight.
Planned Actions
2013: Complete Phase II engineering services for Route 47 north of Interstate 80 2013: Develop county- and municipal-level collaborative control of setbacks along Route 47 for corridor protection 2013: Begin construction on Route 47 north of Interstate 80 Long term: Continue to monitor traffic counts south of Southmor Road to determine future development needs
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 25
Illinois Route 113
Economic Benefits
Illinois Route 113 serves the Villages of Diamond and Coal City in eastern Grundy County, and serves a significant amount of traffic between Interstate 55 in Diamond and Route 47 in central Grundy County. Operating as the primary route through the Villages of Coal City and Diamond, which grew at a combined 30% rate from 2000 to 2010, Route 113 is the anticipated location for new commercial and retail growth, particularly in the Village of Diamond, which is undergoing intersection improvements to accommodate this growth. Additionally, Route 113 provides important access from central Grundy County to Interstate 55, as well as new and existing intermodal facilities in the area.
Illinois Route 113 has experienced significant traffic growth over past decade, much higher than that which would be predictable from the area’s 30% population growth alone. This is particularly true nearer to Interstate 55. The 1998 IDOT average daily traffic count on Route 113 from I-55 to Berta Road was 6,600 vehicles. 2009 traffic counts estimate that this same stretch now handles 12,100 vehicles per day, an 83% increase. High levels of additional growth are expected as additional major transportation and commercial projects are undertaken in the area.
Strategic Impact
The primary strategic implications of Illinois Route 113 improvements will be the benefits to safety, reduced congestion, and improved east-west access through the county between I-55 and Illinois Route 47.
The at-grade double rail crossing at 5th Avenue in Coal City presents a significant source of congestion on an important commercial corridor from central and eastern Grundy County to Interstate 55 and the Will County intermodals, as well as safety concerns for emergency vehicles trying to pass through that area of Route 113 to respond to calls.
Planned Actions
Capacity increase from Interstate 55 west to Carbon Hill Road 2013: Intersection improvements and signalization in Diamond Rail separation at 1st Avenue in Coal City
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 26
Ridge Road
Economic Benefits
Within roughly one mile of the expected project to widen the rail viaduct and Ridge Road, there are several distribution centers, with total employment in the range of 500 persons, with committed new development to add more facilities that will employ another 900 persons within the next year. Of course, this will also generate additional traffic in Minooka. While all of this growth has provided a significant economic benefit to the area, infrastructure improvements within Minooka and in the area overall are necessary to maintain economic competitiveness.
Strategic Impact
The need to widen Ridge Road through Minooka has grown in importance as the Village of Minooka has grown, both in terms of residents and commercial traffic. The Village grew some 175% in terms of total population from 2000 to 2010, while also adding several new distribution facilities. The Ridge Road widening project will help set the table for future growth in the community, while also improving overall safety by reducing traffic accidents in the area of the rail viaduct bottleneck and providing pedestrian access from north to south along Ridge Road.
Planned Actions
Stage 1: Widening from Minooka Road/Mondamin Street south to McEvilly Road Stage 1: Rail bridge reconstruction to accommodate widening Stage 1: Secure additional right-of-way to accommodate pedestrian and bicycle traffic Stage 2: Widening from McEvilly Road to U.S. Route 6
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 27
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 28
US Route 6
Economic Benefits
From an industrial employment perspective, the Route 6 corridor between Morris and Channahon has been extremely important for Grundy County for decades. As the area has grown, so too has employment and investment in this corridor. This remains the vital industrial hub for the county, and is expected to continue to be with the addition of the Brisbin Road interchange and anticipated development around the site.
Moving west from the industrial sites into the City of Morris, Route 6 becomes a primary commercial corridor. Divided into two sections by its short concurrency with Route 47, Route 6 west and the area immediately surrounding it serves as the anticipated high- growth area of the City of Morris for both commercial and residential development.
Strategic Impact
US Route 6 west of Illinois Route 47 in Morris has seen elevated traffic counts and congestion, with some counts exceeding 13,000 vehicles per day on sections of the road that are two lanes with no turn lanes. In order to improve the safety of this situation, the City of Morris completed projects in 2012 to include signalization and turn lanes at two of the intersections on west Route 6. However, the appropriate long-term solution is widening of Route 6 from Route 47 west to Saratoga Road.
Route 6 between Morris and Channahon does not carry nearly the traffic load as Route 6 west, but is expected to receive elevated traffic counts after the opening of the Brisbin Road interchange. Further study must be conducted to determine the effect of new traffic patterns and loads and to determine future needs.
Planned Actions
Review traffic impacts of the Brisbin I-80 interchange on Route 6 from Route 47 to Ridge Road Widening and reconstruction to 4 lanes through Morris from Route 47 to Saratoga Road
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 29
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 30
Brisbin Road Interchange
Economic Benefits
The new Brisbin Road interchange provides a significant opportunity for economic development at and around the site, as most of the surrounding area is currently undeveloped. It will serve existing industry, particularly in the Route 6 heavy industrial corridor, by providing an alternative way to access interstate 80 without passing through the heavier traffic areas on Route 47, Ridge Road, or Route 6.
Further, the Brisbin Road development opportunities are certainly uncommon at this time, with Brisbin Road being the only new freeway access point under construction in northern Illinois
Strategic Impact
More than only a new access point to Interstate 80, the Brisbin Road corridor will also require development of north/south corridor to accommodate traffic travelling north and south into Kendall County from the new interchange. It is also anticipated that the new interchange will significantly affect east-west traffic in the area. In both cases, it will be important to identify the expected changes in traffic flows and develop strategies to accommodate the changes to the region.
Planned Actions
Continue corridor study partnership with Kendall County to develop a corridor for north/south travel from the new Interstate 80 interchange north into Kendall County including Sherril and Grove Roads Study new traffic flows around the interchange to determine future needs
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 31
Brisbin Road Interchange Construction (Background: Route 6 Industry); December 2011
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 32
Interstate 80
Economic Benefits
Interstate 80 is a source of significant economic competitive advantage for Grundy County. The new Brisbin Road interchange between Minooka and Morris will provide an excellent new access point for industrial development on Interstate 80 – something that is not happening anywhere else in northern Illinois. Existing firms will also benefit. Grundy County has solidified its reputation as a multi-modal transportation and logistics hub, and the new interchange will help provide more convenient freeway access for commercial traffic outside of busy urban centers.
Strategic Impact
Interstate 80 expansion is no small project, but certainly seems warranted at this time. While the I-80 Ridge Road to Route 30 project will assess needed changes through that corridor, widening of Interstate 80 to the new Brisbin Road interchange and west to Illinois Route 47 must also be studied. Grundy County, and the region as a whole, has seen a significant rise in population, driving higher traffic counts. Additionally, the emergence of Will County as a massive inland port and Grundy County as home to a large network of transportation and distribution centers has driven commercial traffic significantly higher in the area. Rising demand of the Interstate in Grundy County will drive the need for future capacity additions.
Planned Actions
The I-80 Ridge Road to Route 30 project got underway in the spring of 2010. Phase I Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study will take a detailed look at the current and future transportation needs of the corridor. The study will include an analysis of existing roadway and bridge deficiencies, safety and capacity issues, and future transportation needs, and includes an extensive public involvement process. More information is available at the project website, http://i-80will.com.
Maintain involvement in the Ridge Road to Route 30 project currently underway to review widening options for Interstate 80 into Minooka Advocate for future Ridge Road to Route 47 widening to accommodate population and commercial activity growth
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 33
I-80Advocate for Ridge future Ridge Road Road to Route 47 wideningto Route to accommodate 30 population Study and commercial Area activity growth
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 34
Illiana Expressway
Economic Benefits
The Illiana Expressway would provide Grundy County with greater access to one of the largest “inland port” intermodal freight areas in the U.S. and the proposed South Suburban Airport, supporting economic development in this area, and the potential for substantial job creation. The Illiana Expressway Opportunities Analysis has concluded that an east-west connection between I-55 and I-65 would produce substantial regional economic benefits over a 30-year period. The nine-county region comprising the Illiana Corridor is expected to experience population growth of 49% by 2040 and employment growth of 72% over the same period. Within the actual proposed corridor area for the Illiana Expressway, which includes the eastern border of Grundy County along with portions of Will, Kankakee and Lake County, IN, employment is expected to grow 225% by 2040.
Strategic Impact
Studies have indicated several benefits of an east-west transportation corridor extending from I-55 in Illinois to I-65 in Indiana. These include providing an alternate route for motorists traveling the I-90/94 corridor, relieving traffic on the I-80 Borman/Kingery Expressway and U.S. 30, and serving as a bypass for trucks around the congested metropolitan highways. For Grundy County, this new long-term transportation solution provides not only a new route for commuting from the eastern part of Grundy into neighboring counties, but also an important alternative for new commercial traffic generated by multi-modal transportation and logistics facilities in the area. More information is available at illianacorridor.com.
Planned Actions
At the time of this writing, the Illinois and Indiana Departments of Transportation have identified corridor B3 as the preferred corridor for the Illiana Expressway (see map on next page).
Continue to build support for the development of the Illiana Expressway as an important east-west alternative to I-80 between I-55 in Illinois and I-65 in Indiana Evaluate regional roads and traffic changes that will be impacted by the project
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 35
Illiana Expressway Potential Corridors
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 36
Illiana Expressway Preliminary Recommendation
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 37
Selected Illiana Expressway Study Data
Study Area
Projected Population Growth Area 2010 Population 2040 Projection Change Region 10,025,000 12,922,000 29% South Sub-Region 2,635,000 3,933,000 49%
Projected Employment Growth Area 2010 Employment 2040 Projection Change Region 5,664,000 7,626,000 35% South Sub-Region 1,099,000 1,889,000 72% Source: The al Chalabi Group
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 38
Daily Vehicle Trips Growth
Projected Daily Vehicle Trips Area 2010 2040 Change Region 61,733,000 77,685,000 26% South Sub-Region 14,224,000 19,323,000 36%
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 39
Daily Truck Trips Growth
Projected Daily Truck Trips Area 2010 2040 Change Region 3,850,200 5,223,400 36% South Sub-Region 824,900 1,340,900 63% Study Area 87,800 257,100 193%
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 40
Prairie Parkway Though this project has been put on hold at least through the medium term, Prairie Parkway still represents an important transportation improvement for the western and southwestern exurban areas around Chicago. The planned widening of Illinois Route 47 is a critical first step that will reduce some of the current traffic burden, but is likely to be insufficient in the long term for future growth in the region.
The combined areas of Kane, Kendall, and Grundy Counties, which make up the area of the planned Prairie Parkway project, have experienced some of the most significant growth in the State over the last 20 years. From 1990 to 2000, these three counties added more than 100,000 residents, then added another 183,870 between 2000 and 2010, a combined growth rate over the 20-year period of 75% and nearly 300,000 new residents. This represents a 2.83% annualized growth rate over a twenty-year period, more than four times Illinois’ growth rate of 0.58% over the same period. In fact, since 1990 these three counties alone have accounted for 21% of all growth in Illinois, while comprising only 3% of the total population of the state at that time.
Economic conditions have slowed all growth throughout the region in the past 3 years, and growth is expected to remain slow in the near term while markets recover. However, as growth does again begin to accelerate, the forces that made these areas desirable growth corridors (inexpensive housing, high quality of life, relative proximity to Chicago market) remain intact, and this corridor can again be expected to grow at a higher rate than the rest of the state and region. As this area develops, additional transportation infrastructure will be necessary. The Prairie Parkway will help sustain the quality of life in this region in the face of future growth.
County 1990 Population 2000 Population Absolute Growth % Growth Grundy 32,337 37,535 5,198 16.07% Kendall 39,413 54,544 15,131 38.39% Kane 317,471 404,119 86,648 27.29% Total 389,221 496,198 106,977 27.48%
County 2000 Population 2010 Population Absolute Growth % Growth Grundy 37,535 50,063 12,528 33.38% Kendall 54,544 114,736 60,192 110.35% Kane 404,119 515,269 111,150 27.50% Total 496,198 680,068 183,870 37.06%
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 41
Proposed Prairie Parkway Corridor
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 42
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 43
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 44
Grundy County Transportation Priorities
Rail Priorities
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 45
Rail
Economic Benefits
As is the case for the entire region, rail has been a significant competitive advantage for Grundy County. Freight rail service is provided by BNSF, Canadian National, CSX, and Union Pacific. This freight rail serves a variety of local industries, and two major rail expansions were completed in the Route 6 industrial corridor in 2011.
As intermodal projects have developed along freight rail lines in neighboring counties, interest has increased for similar projects in Grundy County. At present, two major projects, Coal City Providence Logistics and the Seneca I-80 Railport are in development to utilize Grundy County freight rail for multimodal development.
Strategic Impact
In addition to the significant economic impact of freight rail, regional passenger rail project would also strategically benefit Grundy County. In early 2012, $186 million in funding was provided to complete the section of high-speed rail passing through Grundy County between Dwight and Joliet. Additionally, extension of passenger service along the Rock Island line from Joliet through Grundy County to Ottawa in LaSalle County has become a regional priority, with backing from Will, Grundy, and LaSalle Counties.
Planned Actions
Private Development Projects
Pursue rail development opportunities to fully leverage the region’s rail competitive advantage
Public Development Projects
Completion of the Chicago to St. Louis high speed rail network, with construction of the Dwight to Joliet segment, including the portions in Grundy County in 2012 Continue studies and build support for the extension of passenger rail service on the Rock Island line from Joliet through Grundy County to LaSalle County
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 46
Rail Dominance in Illinois Illinois is the only state in which all Class I Railroads operate!
Number of Railroads by State Rail Miles by State Rank State Count Rank State Total Miles 1 Pennsylvania 55 1 Texas 10405 2 Texas 45 2 Illinois 7313 3 Illinois 42 3 California 5305 3 Indiana 42 3 Ohio 5286 5 New York 37 5 Pennsylvania 4973 Rail Tons Originated by State Rail Tons Terminated by State Tons Tons Rank State Rank State (millions) (millions) 1 Wyoming 473.6 1 Texas 186.58 2 Illinois 99.83 2 Illinois 148.97 3 West Virginia 99.74 3 California 88.55 3 Texas 82.43 3 Georgia 75.95 5 Kentucky 76.77 5 Missouri 72.79 Rail Carloads Originated by State Rail Carloads Terminated by State Rank State Carloads Rank State Carloads 1 Wyoming 4,054,000 1 Illinois 3,322,000 2 Illinois 3,019,400 2 California 2,950,300 3 California 2,786,300 3 Texas 2,639,300 3 Texas 1,637,400 3 Georgia 1,212,200 5 West Virginia 929,300 5 Florida 1,036,700
Rail Tons Carried by State Rail Carloads Carried by State Tons Rank State Rank State Carloads (millions) 1 Wyoming 557.76 1 Illinois 9,679,800 2 Nebraska 538.19 2 Texas 7,869,700 3 Illinois 437.1 3 Missouri 7,015,100 4 Missouri 391.1 4 California 5,702,300 5 Kansas 340.94 5 Kansas 5,668,500
Freight Rail Employment by State Freight Rail Wages by State
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 47
Rank State Employment Rank State Wages($mil) 1 Texas 557.76 1 Texas $1,153.10 2 Illinois 538.19 2 Illinois $846.60 3 Nebraska 437.1 3 Nebraska $823.10 4 California 391.1 4 California $652.00 5 Ohio 340.94 5 Missouri $499.10
Source: American Association of Railroads
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 48
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 49
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 50
High-Speed Rail in Illinois
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 51
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 52
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 53
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 54
Grundy County Transportation Priorities
Waterway Priorities
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 55
Illinois River
Economic Benefits
The economic benefits of utilizing water transport in Grundy County have long been a factor in the County’s agricultural economy. The ability to easily access the Illinois River to efficiently and inexpensively move goods down the river to other markets is beneficial to not only agriculture, but a variety of other regional businesses.
Strategic Impact
The Illinois River has long served as a strategic advantage for Grundy County, particularly in the agricultural sector. As part of the Illinois Waterway, which ultimately connects to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico, freight traffic on the Illinois River remains an essential part of the Grundy County economy.
The seven locks on the Illinois River were all built in the 1930s, and all have a length of 600 feet, which is insufficient for present traffic demands and is prone to cause significant delays both on the Illinois River and on the Mississippi River as the Illinois Waterway continues toward the Gulf of Mexico.
The push to modernize the lock system has fallen from favor with the advent of alternative grain shipping options (intermodal facilities) and reduced budgets. However, this remains an important long-term goal for the region, as agriculture continues to be a major economic force in Illinois.
Planned Actions
Private Development Projects
Develop dock areas of Illinois River in EDPA 2 Utilize and develop dock areas of Illinois River in western Grundy County near Seneca
Public Development Projects
Create a modern lock system on the Illinois River beyond the current system of seven 600-foot locks to allow more efficient freight passage and encourage greater river commerce
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 56
2010 Illinois Waterway Exports by Type
Cereal grains 45.3%
Animal feed 3.3%
Transport equip. 0.5%
Other Agriculture Other 50.5% 0.4%
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 57
Total KTons Water Freight Originating in Illinois 74,000 35,000.00
72,000 30,000.00
70,000 25,000.00
Exports 68,000 20,000.00
66,000
15,000.00
64,000 Exported Tons (KTons)
10,000.00 62,000 Total KTons Total KTons Originated in Illinois
5,000.00 60,000
58,000 0.00 2007 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035 2040 Total Ktons Originating in Illinois 65,666.00 63,609.48 65,423.54 66,228.23 66,777.29 67,685.59 69,561.76 72,992.57 Exports 17,486.26 19,213.90 19,887.69 21,477.57 23,325.75 24,865.67 26,615.48 28,935.37 Source: FHA FAF3 Data Extraction Tool
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 58
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 59
Grundy County Transportation Priorities
Air Priorities
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 60
Morris Municipal Airport
Economic Benefits
The 2000 Economic Impact of Illinois Airports study showed Morris Municipal Airport with roughly 48,000 annual aircraft operations (takeoffs and landings) and 51 aircraft based at James Washburn Field. The economic impact of these activities in 2000 was:
Direct Impact $3,582,000 Indirect Impact $2,883,510 Induced Impact $4,380,786 Total Impact $10,846,296
In 2000, Morris Municipal Airport ranked 4th in the state in total economic impact among general aviation airports. As of 2010, the number of total flight operations has remained stable, but the number of aircraft based here has increased 29%. A new study currently underway will assess the 2010 economic impact of Illinois airports.
Strategic Impact
Morris Municipal Airport is located two miles north of Interstate 80 on Route 47 in Morris. Both the location and available services provide a strong strategic advantage for Grundy County and area businesses. The runway and facilities accommodate private jet traffic, allowing firms to easily fly into and out of Grundy County, providing easy access to their business. Additionally, Morris Municipal Airport operates outside of the O’Hare Airport control area, allowing additional freedom for planes operating in Grundy County.
Planned Actions
2013: Runway expansion to 5500 feet; Parallel taxiway, Updated lighting and signage. 2013: Navigational aids; Precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lighting system Long-term: Become a Class C2 Airport with a minimum 4000-foot cross runway and widen and overlay the runway for larger aircraft.
2013 Grundy County Transportation Priorities 61 High Impact Regional Projects Map Transportation Priorities Map Regional Maps Overview Northeast Region Northwest Region Southeast Region