Public Comment Section PUBLIC INFORMATION AND PREVIOUS PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING TO PUBLIC HEARING #1 PUBLIC HEARING #1 TO PUBLIC HEARING #2 PUBLIC HEARING #2 AND AFTERWARDS Circle Interchange (P-91-259-12) Public Comments While public comment has been solicited throughout the Circle Interchange Study, there have been four primary periods where comments were submitted. These periods were heavily influenced by the Public Meetings, Public Hearings, and the media coverage surrounding these events. Correspondingly, the following comments and responses have been divided into four sections: • Comments received prior to and during the Public Information Meeting o Project initiation in Fall of 2012 through August 30, 2012 • Comments received after the Public Information Meeting, prior to the first Public Hearing o August 31, 2012 through April 2, 2013 • Comments received during and after the first Public Hearing, prior to the second Public Hearing o April 3, 2013 through June 26, 2013 • Comments received during and after the second Public Hearing o June 27, 2013 through submittal of this Report. Comments were received via written letters, emails, comment response forms, web-based comment forms, Court Reporters, and other media. Responses to the commenter have been made when sufficient information to contact them was provided in the original comment. Inside of the three primary sections, comments and responses have been arranged alphabetically by commenter’s last name. Where no name was given, the best identifying information available was used. September 2013 MAP Correspondence Public Information Meeting and Previous August 30, 2012 and before February 16, 2013 Dear Ms. Balan: This correspondence is in response to the comment you submitted by Comment Form on August 30, 2012 regarding the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (Department) proposed improvement of the Circle Interchange. Specifically, you noted your desire to keep the ability to exit at Morgan Street after getting onto westbound I-290 from southbound I-90/94. The project team has been working with the Project Working Group and other stakeholders to narrow the numerous alternatives down to a recommended alternative that best meets the project’s purpose and need. The recommended alternative will be presented at a public hearing early in 2013. After completing traffic and safety studies, reviewing several different alternatives for this location and careful deliberation, the recommended alternative will only maintain the exit to Morgan Street for traffic from the northbound to westbound ramp (Ramp NW). This ramp will be placed on a flyover bridge and will enter I-290 on the right side of the pavement. This eliminates the ability to connect the southbound to westbound ramp (Ramp SW) to Morgan Street. It also eliminates the existing weave area at this location. Access to Morgan Street from southbound I-90/94 can be made by exiting at Adams Street (or other downtown ramps) or at Ashland Avenue. Thank you for your interest in the Circle Interchange Project. The Department is considering all stakeholder input and comments as we go through the decision making process. We look forward to your ongoing participation, and encourage you to continue to visit our website at www.circleinterchange.org for the most current information on the development of this project. Sincerely, Circle Interchange Study Team CH-Brian Holman From: Circle Interchange Project <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:27 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Circle Interchange February 16, 2013 Dear Mr. Kraus: This correspondence is in response to the comments you submitted via a comment form as part of the August 30, 2012 public meeting regarding the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (Department) proposed improvement of the Circle Interchange. In your comment form, you referenced the current construction work taking place at the Circle Interchange. The barriers you noted currently under construction are being installed as a safety improvement to replace old guardrail. The barriers follow the recommendations made in the Aesthetics Master Plan, which was completed in 2009. Other aesthetic treatments including landscaping and architectural elements recommended in the Master Plan will be studied for inclusion into various design features of this Circle Interchange Project. Thank you for your interest in the Circle Interchange Project. The Department is considering all stakeholder input and comments as we go through the decision making process. We look forward to your ongoing participation, and encourage you to continue to visit our website at www.circleinterchange.org for the most current information on the development of this project. Sincerely, Circle Interchange Study Team 1 CH-Brian Holman From: Circle Interchange Project <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:45 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Circle Interchange February 16, 2013 Dear Mr. Schulz: This correspondence is in response to the comments you submitted via a comment form on August 30, 2012 regarding the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (Department) proposed improvement of the Circle Interchange. Specifically, you noted access to Taylor Street from Congress Parkway as being critical, as well as questioning the need for the Morgan Street exit ramp and a need to separate eastbound Congress Parkway from westbound I-290. Since the public meeting, numerous alternatives have been evaluated and presented at three Project Working Group meetings. Given the number of ramps in the area, evaluations were made whether to maintain or eliminate certain connections based on safety and traffic impacts. As shown during our third Project Working Group meeting, a recommended alternative has been developed to address the project’s purpose and need. The recommended alternative keeps access to Taylor Street from westbound Congress Parkway as well as from southbound I-90/94. However, access from eastbound I-290 is not provided. This movement may be accomplished indirectly by using the Racine Avenue exit along eastbound I-290 or the Canal Street exit along eastbound Congress Parkway. The recommended alternative maintains the Morgan Street exit ramp, but only for northbound to westbound ramp traffic, which is in line with your suggestion. Using this approach eliminates the current weave at this location. The recommended alternative also provides a barrier separation between eastbound Congress Parkway and westbound I-290, as it is today. Thank you for your interest in the Circle Interchange Project. The Department is considering all stakeholder input and comments as we go through the decision making process. We look forward to your ongoing participation, and encourage you to continue to visit our website at www.circleinterchange.org for the most current information on the development of this project. Sincerely, Circle Interchange Study Team 1 CH-Brian Holman From: Circle Interchange Project <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2013 12:47 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Circle Interchange February 16, 2013 Dear Ms. Tammen: This correspondence is in response to the comments you submitted via a comment form on August 30, 2012 regarding the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (Department) proposed improvement of the Circle Interchange. The Department continually reviews all corridors to identify areas where improvements may be needed. The Circle Interchange project limits extend north to Lake Street and south to Roosevelt Road. The Department recognizes additional needs beyond these study limits. The Circle Interchange Project is just one piece of the study of the expressway system. Therefore, during the Circle Interchange study, we are taking into account future improvements along the corridor in all directions so that improvements made as part of the Circle Interchange Project will not preclude future, long-term projects. Thank you for your interest in the Circle Interchange Project. The Department is considering all stakeholder input and comments as we go through the decision making process. We look forward to your ongoing participation, and encourage you to continue to visit our website at www.circleinterchange.org for the most current information on the development of this project. Sincerely, Circle Interchange Study Team 1 Public Information Meeting to Public Hearing #1 August 31, 2012 to April 2, 2013 Web Comments Glen Anderson [email protected] 701-F South Carpenter Street Chicago, IL 60607 4/1/2013 CS # 5342 I am a resident in the UIC area. As part of this project, can a third lane be added to eastbound Taylor Street between Halsted and Union? This little strip backs up terribly at rush hour because of all the traffic trying to access the highway. A third lane that was right turn only onto Union sure would help. CH-Brian Holman From: Circle Interchange Project <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2013 8:46 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Circle Interchange Attachments: Anderson, Glen_Web Comment_04-01-2013.pdf September 5, 2013 Dear Mr. Anderson: Thank you for the comment you submitted via the project website regarding the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (Department) proposed improvement of the Circle Interchange. Your comment was specifically related to adding a third lane on eastbound Taylor Street between Halsted Street and Union Avenue. Per coordination with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the Department, the