Connecting Communities
Southwest Metro Caucus
January 22, 2004
A Chicagoland Transportation and Air Quality Commission project in partnership with:
Livable Communities Alliance & the Human Action Community Organization
Connecting Communities caucuses are a public involvement
follow-up to the Connecting Communities summits that
involved over 500 people from throughout northeastern Illinois.
The caucuses are designed to take a "snapshot" of a
community's views on progress toward their summit
recommendations. Some recommendations were major
projects that could only be accomplished over a long time
period. Others were practical, short-term, and inexpensive
solutions to community mobility deficits.
The group that recently convened for a Southwest Metro
Region Connecting Communities Caucus was aware of
the relationship between transportation options, the
environment, and community development. They
understood the processes and plans throughout the
region for expanding, repairing, and improving the
various transportation systems. This awareness led
participants to question motivations and direction of
many projects. There was consensus within the group
that many of the officially recommended projects didn't
promote the most viable alternatives for the community;
many of the projects were seen as expensive and
disruptive to the character and environment of the
southwest corner of this region.
Substantially increase transit options
Participants cited the inclusion of the Starline proposal
in the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan, discussion of
Metra stations in Beecher and Manhattan, and bike racks
on all Pace buses as signs of progress for the region.
While some suggested that the late night shuttle from
Joliet to other communities was progress, others
questioned whether this was an improvement, noting
that the shuttle was "just going from one dead end
location to another." While the group was somewhat
positive about new transit options, they were conflicted
because they felt that municipalities had resisted
consideration of alternative options; participants noted
that the building of parking lots in these communities
on green space had sent the message that green space
wasn't valued.
Participants focused on connectivity between Metra and
town centers as an inexpensive way to increase transit
options in the region. The group suggested: shuttle
service from Peotone to the University Park Metra
station; better coordination of information
dissemination between Pace and Metra ; and finally, more
direct and seamless transportation options to O'Hare
airport. Additionally, participants wanted to see
improved Dial-a-Ride service for seniors.
Expand options for pedestrians, bicyclists, seniors,
the disabled, and children
Progress on this recommendation was met with mixed
reviews; participants noted that pedestrian and bicycle
projects take a certain degree of political will.
Impediments to projects included poor municipal support and
poor enforcement of pedestrian and bicycle rights
. Participants
suggested that the lack of regional connectivity could be
attributed to the fact that not all municipalities require shoulders
on local roads to be paved. For instance, Mokena is requiring
walking and biking paths along roads and Bolingbrook is installing
new bike trails, but there was the general feeling that not much
was being done to get people out of their cars and to consider
other options. There has not been visible movement to connect
bike trails and sidewalks between different municipalities. The
group was also concerned that regional planning bodies like CATS
as well as local municipalities like New Lenox are giving "lip
service" to the concepts of context sensitive design
1
, but not
putting money or "muscle" behind implementation.
Since little had been done to increase accommodations for all
pedestrians and bicyclists, this group had some simple and
creative ideas to increase pedestrian and bicycle coverage in
Excerpt from the Southwest Metro Region
Connecting Communities Summit Report,
February 2002:
The Southwest Metro Region was shaped by railroads and
waterways. Irish, German, and Scandinavian immigrants were
the first laborers to aid in the construction of the Illinois &
Michigan (I&M) Canal in 1836. This shipping canal was at one
time the most significant trading waterway in the United
States. The I&M Canal strengthened the agricultural industry,
offered numerous options for capturing waterpower, served
passenger traffic, and also introduced the products of the
East to the Midwest and points beyond. The Canal laid the
foundation for Chicago to become a transportation hub. In
1984 the Canal corridor became the first "National Heritage
Corridor."
