Oak Park on I-290 Reconstruction: Congestion, Safety, Community Engagement Among Concerns

Adding two lanes to the Eisenhower Expressway won't do much to reduce congestion, a transportation expert and former Oak Park trustee said Monday. 

Congestion was one of several of the concerns the village shared about the Illinois Department of Transportation's proposal to widen I-290 Monday night.

At a special Oak Park Village Board meeting, village presentations outlined IDOT's proposed reconstruction of I-290 and the village's objectives for the future of the highway before IDOT holds two public meetings on the project next week. 

The biggest reconstruction of the Ike since the 1950s
With a target end date in fall of 2014, IDOT launched its I-290 study in 2009 to determine the best way to improve the major thoroughfare from Chicago to the western suburbs. 

IDOT is proposing to widen I-290 from six to eight lanes and move and elevate the exit and entrance ramps to the right side of the expressway at Harlem Avenue and Austin Boulevard. The project would be the largest reconstruction of the Ike since the 1950s. 

The new lanes (one in each direction) could be constructed as general purpose lanes, a carpool lane for vehicles with two or more people, a carpool lane for vehicles with three or more people with a toll, or a combination of the three, Oak Park Assistant Village Manager Rob Cole said Monday.

The new lanes would all remain within the existing footprint of the corridor, and could include rapid bus transit or a CTA Blue Line extension to Mannheim. Other common traits of the four options include a new lane from Mannheim to Austin, lane conversion from Austin to Racine (except for the general purpose alternative) and express bus service west of Mannheim.

What's wrong with the plan?
Cole outlined the village's main concerns, including the noise and air quality impacts the project would bring, pedestrian safety at the proposed interchanges and IDOT's "inadequate" efforts to engage the community and solicit feedback about the project. (Read through Cole's presentation here.)

The proposed interchanges would not be safe for pedestrians because of the added lanes and increased traffic volumes, he said.

Rick Kuner, a former Oak Park trustee and founder of Citizens for Appropriate Transportation, also presented at the meeting, sharing a few alternatives IDOT could consider, including the CSX freight tracks along I-290 that aren't being used.

The current alternatives, he said, do little to reduce congestion in general purpose lanes on the Ike.

In a 24-hour day, IDOT estimates the Ike is congested about 18 hours, Kuner said. The best alternative would only cut congestion to about 16.25 hours. 

Board comments
During board comments, Trustee Colette Lueck said it's not clear why Oak Park would support a plan to reduce congestion for people who don't live in Oak Park, as the drive from Oak Park to downtown Chicago is quick and easy.

"On any morning I can get from my house to my building (downtown) in a half hour (in less time than it would take using public transit)... There's a lot of traffic and congestion (on I-290), but it's not from Austin to downtown—It's back the other way," she said. 

"We know bridges have to be rebuilt. We know upgrades are necessary and ramps have to be redesigned, but what are we going to propose that is... possible (from an engineering standpoint)... (that) is going to make sense for Oak Park?"

Trustees Peter Barber said while Oak Park needs to be strong and vocal of its positions, the village will need to recognize its role as a neighbor to other communities. 

Regardless of the project's outcome, he added  he wants to know how the village can use it to an advantage.

"Maybe there are some ways... to at least have some more attractive retail environments that people are going to want to see and (make them) want to turn off (I-290) to Oak Park," he said. 

Trustee Adam Salzman stressed the importance of creating and helping to create appropriate channels of community engagement as IDOT wraps up its study in the next year.

He added to Barber's point about being good neighbors. While a project that might benefit Naperville and not Oak Park—and vice versa—the village should employ the public policy version of the golden rule.

"We want folks to be able to consider our interests going forward when they evaluate major projects, so we should also be sensitive to the needs of our neighbors... Something can be good for Naperville and Oak Park. It's not an either-or situation." 

IDOT will host its third round of public open house meetings next week from 5-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7 at the Chicago Marriott, 625 S. Ashland Ave. in Chicago and Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Proviso Math and Science Academy, 8601 Roosevelt Rd. in Forest Park. 

RELATED: "RESIDENTS WEIGH IN ON I-290 RECONSTRUCTION"

Find out more about the I-290 Reconstruction Project at eisenhowerexpressway.com.