South Suburban Mayors and Managers / South Council of Mayors EXISTING CONDITIONS REPORT DRAFT JUNE 2015 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction and Regional Context .................................................................................................................................................................3 1.1 Purpose, Goals, Objectives ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 4 1.2 Planning Process and Next Steps ............................................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.3 SSMMA and the South Council of Mayors .......................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.4 SSMMA / South Council of Mayors and GO TO 2040 ................................................................................................................................... 9 1.5 Transportation and Livability.................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Complete Streets ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 2: Transportation Infrastructure Overview .................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Overview ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Key Findings ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18 2.3 Bicycling ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18 2.3.1 2008 SSMMA Bicycle Plan – Implementation Update ........................................................................................................................... 18 2.3.2 Existing Routes and Trails ............................................................................................................................................................................... 31 2.3.3 Where people bicycle...................................................................................................................................................................................... 35 2.4 Walking ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 39 2.4.1 Pedestrian Infrastructure and Walkability ................................................................................................................................................. 39 2.5 Transit ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 44 2.5.1 Metra .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 46 2.5.2 Pace Suburban Bus ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 51 Tinley Park Call-n-Ride Service ............................................................................................................................................................................. 53 Other Demand-responsive Services .................................................................................................................................................................... 53 ADA Paratransit Services ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 53 Pace Ride Share and Vanpool ................................................................................................................................................................................ 53 2.6 Safety............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 53 Pedestrian crashes ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 54 Bicycle crashes ........................................................................................................................................................................................................... 60 Level of Traffic Stress ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 62 Motor vehicle crashes ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 64 Chapter 3: Surface Transportation Planning Program ............................................................................................................................................... 67 3.1 Planned and Programmed Roadway Improvements ....................................................................................................................................... 67 3.2 SSMMA STP Programming Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................... 68 3.3 Active Transportation Alliance Review of Council of Mayors STP Programming Methods ............................................................... 72 3.4 IDOT Categorical Exclusion Process and Rules ............................................................................................................................................... 75 Chapter 4: Looking Forward .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 79 Chapter 1: Introduction and Regional Context In January 2015, South Council of Mayors, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), and Active Transportation Alliance staff held an initial team meeting to kick off the South Council of Mayors Complete Streets and Trails Plan. The project was identified by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) and South Council of Mayors staff as a high priority and crucial element to encourage active transportation and to advance a Complete Streets approach to roadway and transit planning and programming. SSMMA and the South Council of Mayors have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to planning for all modes of transportation. This commitment is realized, above all, in the Southland’s planning and economic development framework, the Green TIME Zone,1 which establishes a vision for sustainable redevelopment in the southern suburbs and presents strategies through which older communities can leverage the value of their established rail infrastructure and manufacturing capacity into desirable neighborhoods, good jobs, and environmental improvement. Among other key strategies, the framework emphasizes Transit Oriented Development (TOD) hubs, where residents can enjoy convenient, walkable neighborhoods and realize the savings and other benefits of reduced driving. The Complete Streets and Trails Plan project will update and expand earlier planning efforts, including the 2008 SSMMA Bicycle Plan, to include priority regional corridors, connections to transit, and walkability. The project will also include a review of the South Council of Mayors’ current Surface Transportation Program (STP) processes, with an eye toward identifying opportunities for advancing Complete Streets and multimodal transportation. Finally, the project team will conduct outreach activities aimed at identifying 3-4 communities in the South Council of Mayors, who are interested in, and would benefit from, a Complete Streets policy. The project team – with the Active Transportation Alliance taking the lead – will then work closely with these communities to develop and promote adoption of Complete Streets policies. This existing conditions report is a critical first step in the planning process – laying the groundwork from which recommendations