SSSECT ION 5 --- TRANSPORTATION An efficient and effective circulation system is a fundamental need of the City and its residents, businesses and Thoroughfare System Plan visitors. Elgin’s transportation infrastructure affects the City’s quality of life in a variety of ways. The Thoroughfare System Plan establishes typical street cross sections including right-of-way width, the widths As the largest city in the area and home to a diverse employment base, Elgin serves the mobility needs of its of through, turn and parking lanes, median width, and the widths of border areas including planting strips and 97,000 residents and thousands of daily commuters traveling to and from the surrounding area. The City also sidewalks. The Thoroughfare Plan also helps to preserve right-of-way and define construction standards for serves as a regional hub that is traversed by an interstate tollway, one U.S. highway, four State highways, future transportation improvements. commuter and freight rail service, and commuter bus service. This important regional setting requires that the City coordinate its transportation system with State, county, and regional transportation plans. Purpose of the Thoroughfare System Plan Relationship to Other Sections There are five central purposes accomplished in the Thoroughfare System Plan: The Transportation section is related to the Community Form, Community Facilities and Services, Economic and 1. Preservation of right-of-way: Right-of-way is to be preserved to accommodate existing and future Business Development, Design Guidelines sections of the plan. The relationship between the Transportation transportation needs. and Community Form sections is one of the most critical – the transportation system must be able to accommodate the traffic that is generated by virtue of the City’s Land Use Plan. The Growth Management Plan 2. Continuity: Strive for continuity in the functional, physical and aesthetic character of various classifications and Community Facilities and Services section are also tied to transportation and land use; the goals, objectives of streets. and policies identified in the sections and plan elements work together to ensure that the provision of City services and infrastructure keeps pace with new development and subsequent changes in population and 3. Connectivity: Streets link neighborhoods – old and new – to create a seamless, connected community. employment. In addition, the Transportation section is directly linked to the Economic and Business Development section since the efficient movement of employees, visitors, residents and goods throughout the 4. Preservation of capacity: Preserve the capacity of major streets. The plan establishes a rationale for City is a critical factor to strengthen Elgin’s economy. Transportation is also linked to community design access management based on existing and anticipated development along the major transportation because of its direct effect on the City’s image and character. corridors. Achieving the Vision 5. Preservation of neighborhood character: Preserve and enhance the character of existing neighborhoods and neighborhood streets. The Transportation section is more than the description of a transportation system – it is an infrastructure plan that addresses the mobility of people, goods and services, energy, utilities, and communications. It affects land Street Categories and Types use patterns, air quality, open space, habitat planning, noise, energy use, and community appearance. Streets are categorized by how they perform for the neighborhood and the community. For simplicity, street The major purpose of this section is to design and improve the transportation system to meet the current and categories can be broken into three groups: future needs of all Elgin residents and visitors. Such a system should be equitable, effective, efficient, and show foresight. It should be equitable by being accessible to all economic segments of the City to make people’s lives Street Categories more convenient. The system must be effective if it is to carry out the goals of this section. It should be efficient by making use of existing infrastructure wherever practical. Finally, it should have the foresight to accommodate LOCAL: providing access to neighborhood destinations: trails, alleys, lanes, and neighborhood streets. future growth and preserve important transportation routes for future planning needs. TRANSITIONAL: providing transitional access between neighborhood streets and arterial streets: collector The transportation system described in the section of the Comprehensive Plan and Design Guidelines is based streets and main streets. on a broader community vision that Elgin will develop in a more compact urban form that will: REGIONAL: providing regional access and connections to major destinations: arterial streets (parkways and • protect and enhance the environment, boulevards). • conserve natural resources including energy and land, • provide a wider and more balanced choice of accessible transportation alternatives, and A. LOCAL STREETS • better respond to the transportation needs of the majority of current and future residents. Local streets, which form the heart of quiet neighborhoods, function primarily to provide access to neighborhood The Transportation Plan provides overall policy guidance to direct future decisions and investments in destinations and make numerous connections within and between neighborhoods. All of these connectors improvements in the transportation system, including the thoroughfare, transit, bicycling, and pedestrian provide access, and utility and pedestrian infrastructure. Traffic speeds of 15-20 miles an hour are appropriate elements. to such functions. Alleys and neighborhood streets are measured on how well they add to the quality of the neighborhood by offering access, parking, tranquility, and safety. Section 5 – Transportation Page 1 Neighborhoods work best with many connections from the edges. Connections to the centers of neighborhoods Commercial applications – use 18-22 foot paved width for access and deliveries are appropriate too, but they should not move significant amounts of traffic, nor move that traffic too quickly. People entering neighborhoods should feel rewarded by ease of access to specific locations, but also Lane encouraged to travel by foot or by bicycle. The Local Street category includes the following street types: Description: These narrow streets (typically 16-22 feet wide) are used in parks and natural areas. They can Trail function as one-way or two-way streets. Parking, when needed, can be placed on one side or in parking bays. Alley Lane Features: Neighborhood Street Paved width: 16-22 feet Parking bays as needed The following describes local streets in graphics and text. Drainage: swale for natural drainage Average speed: 15 mph Trail Building and Land Use: Generally limited to use in parks and natural areas. Description: Trails are connectors through neighborhoods not intended for motorized vehicles. They often follow their own independent rights-of-way or utility corridors. Serving as an independent alternative Neighborhood Street transportation system, trails connect many homes to parks, schools, transit stops, and other common destinations. Trails can provide access into commercial districts, linking with bicycle lanes for added access to Description: Neighborhood streets are the most common type of access road in neighborhoods. Paved more distant commercial centers, employment centers, and major transportation hubs. Neighborhood trails also portions of these streets are generally 24-30 feet (measured back-to-back of curb and gutter), depending on make connection to natural areas and parks, and should provide access to regional greenways and open parking. The right-of-way is typically 50-60 feet. Efforts are made to create interconnected street layouts which spaces. Trails should provide at intervals sitting areas with benches at vistas and along scenic natural areas. disperse traffic. On-street parking is allowed as it helps to provide needed parking and slows traffic. Features: Features: Trail width: 8-14 feet Paved width: 24-30 feet Clear zone: 3-6 feet 24 ft w/ restricted or no parking (private streets) Right-of-way: 14-20 feet 30 ft w/ parking on both sides (public streets) Shade trees recommended Right-of-way: 50 feet (private streets), 60 feet (public streets) 9 foot planter strips typical (curbline sidewalks w/ tree wells in commercial districts) Building and Land Use: Link to make connections between homes and parks, schools, shopping, 5 foot sidewalks on both sides typical employment, and transit. Drainage: curb and gutter Average speed: 20-25 mph (posted 30 mph) Alley The following describes Transitional Streets in graphics and text. Description: Alleys are slow speed (10 mph) service lanes running behind and sometimes between rows of houses or commercial buildings. Alleys, typically a 16-22 foot paved section within a 20-28 foot right-of-way, B. TRANSITIONAL STREETS can provide public service workers with access to utilities and solid waste collection, and residents easy access to garages, backyards, and accessory units. Alleys also offer second or third approaches for fire and Transitional streets connect residential neighborhoods to commercial centers. In addition to providing access, emergency response. they carry larger and more diverse amounts of traffic. They host deliveries and efficient emergency responses. They anchor neighborhood commerce,