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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-08-1999 Special Meeting PLAINFIELD VILLAGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES SPECIAL MEETING HELD ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1999 AT PLAINFIELD HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM BOARD PRESENT: R. ROCK, M. COLLINS, S. RATHBUN, S. CALABRESE, J. CHERRY, R. SMOLICH AND K. O'CONNELL. OTHERS PRESENT: T. BURGHARD - ADMINISTRATOR S. JANIK - CLERK D. WITTMER, HNTB M. HURTUBISE, HNTB P. ANDREASEN, TIMER Additionally, there were approximately 320 people in the audience. President Rock' called a Special Meeting of the Board for the purpose of receiving the Final Report on the Feasibility Study for extending 143rd Street east to 1-55. President Rock called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll call was taken and all Trustees were present. Clerk Janik led the pledge to the flag. S. Calabrese moved to approve the Agenda. Seconded by K. O'Connell. Vote by roll call. Collins, yes; Rathbun, yes; Calabarese, yes; Cherry, yes; Smolich, yes; O'Connell, yes. 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried. Administrator Burghard presented the Board and public with a brief summary on extending 143rd Street East to 1-55. In 1998 the Village Board authorized the Feasibility Study and selected the engineering firm of HNTB. Three State/U.S. routes travel through the center of the Village. Illinois Rt. 59 is a north-south route through the Village just to the east of the downtown area. U. S. Route 30 enters the Village from the west, turns south along Illinois Route 59 and then angles to the southeast to Joliet. Illinois Route 126 enters from the west along U. S. Route 30 then angles to the northeast just before the downtown and ends at its .interchange with Interstate 55. Interstate 55 is located just to the east of the Village An additional east-west route north of the downtown area with access to Interstate 55 is needed to reduce and redirect the traffic. By providing easy access from 143rd Street to 1o55, Plainfield may finally be able to attract the businesses creating development of Plainfield's first Business Park. The purpose of the Mayor and the Board being here tonight is to hear your opinions. After the engineers give their presentation, we are going to turn it over to the public, we ask that you limit your speeches to no more than 3 minutes. Please come down to the podium, state your name and address for the public records. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEPTEMBER 8, 1999 PAGE TWO Mike Hurtubise and Don Wittmer from HNTB Corporation stated that the extension of 143rd Street between Illinois Rt. 59 and Illinois Rt. 126 is the recommended route and should help reduce the high traffic volumes through the village's downtown area. An interchange with Interstate 55 should also be studied to help facilitate this pass through flow out of the village center. Either providing a half-diamond interchange at 143rd Street or reconstructing the Illinois Route 126 interchange to a full diamond should be investigated as part of the Phase I study of the 143rd Street'extension. No "fatal flaws" were found during the feasibility study. Various agencies have identified this much-needed project in their future planning. The Village's Transportation Plan states that there is an immediate need to complete a Phase I study to determine the feasibility of constructing this east-west link along 143rd Street. The Village Comprehensive Plan long-term strategy identifies 143rd Street as a critical east-west road. The Will County Transportation Plan describes this extension as an important east-west arterial completing the one-mile arterial grid on the north side of Plainfield. An initial project concern was the ability to use the ComEd R.O.W. between Illinois Route 59 and Illinois Route 126. ComEd owns 150 feet of right-of-way and currently has one line of high-tension towers running down the south side of the right-of- way. ComEd has reviewed the proposed roadway plans and concepts for the 143rd Street extension and agreed to the shared use of the northern edge of the right-of-way for a two-land roadway. This will be compatible with their future plans. The floodplain of the DuPage River is over 800 feet wide at the proposed crossing location. Extension coordination will be required with the Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Highway Administration, Illinois E.P.A. and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to minimize the impacts and mitigate the impacted area. As a result of this feasibility study, we recommend that the Village proceed with a Phase I engineering study of the 143rd Street extension from Illinois Route 59 to Illinois Route 126. An interchange location along Interstate 55 at either 143rd Street or Illinois Route 126 should be investigated in more detail during the Phase I study to determine the best and most economical location. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Beverly Wysocki and Al Wysocki, 1735 N. Naperville Road, are opposed to the 143rd Street Extension planned to go east from Rt. 59 to 1-55. They believe the logical, least expensive route would be to upgrade 127th Street to four lanes from Route 59 to meet the Bolingbrook upgrade plan, using Route 59 as the 143rd Street/127th Street connection as Phase I. Phase II could include upgrade SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEPTEMBER 8, 1999 PAGE THREE of 127th Street west of Route 59 to Route 30 with turn lanes from Route 30 to 127th Street. Phase III could be the extension of 127th to WlKADUKE. Alice French, 221 E. Copper Drive, objects due to the environmental impact. Jim Thiel, 16001 S. Lexington, PAAC, stated he is in favor or the 143rd Street extension. Judy Oberts and Tom Oberts, 121 E. Copper Drive, object to the 143rd Street Extension planned to go east from Rt. 59 to 1-55 because of the issue of flooding. In 1996 the river came to the road right across from St. Mary's Cemetery. The river has already gone over the road in many areas. They also object to the noise and air pollution that the extension will bring. Jerry Taylor, 1520 North Naperville Road, objects to the 143rd DuPage River Bridge being built in a flood plain. Mike Wuestenfeld, 211 Copper'Drive, opposed to the 143rd Street Corridor Extension and would suggest that we do traffic studies before proceeding. Helen Savageau, 1600 N. Naperville Rd., opposes the 143rd Street extension because of flood issues. Charlotte Baker, 151 E. Copper Drive, is opposed to the 143rd Street extension. She feels that IDOT will be working on the viaduct lowering and rebuilding; widening of Route 59 and this will ease traffic problems. John D'Arcy, 1580 Naperville Road, objects to the 143rd Street Extension. Would like the Village to work with Romeoville and Bolingbrook to help find a plan that will solve the traffic problems. Paul Fay, 1449 Penny Lane, opposes the 143rd Street Extension. He has concerns about open space and greenland. We need to think long and hard about our current developments and the proposing of any new ones. We need to challenge each other regarding the use of land, open space and natural resources. David Dougherty, 13437 Lakeshore Drive, presented Petitions signed by 775 people voting in favor of the 143rd Street Extension. We believe that this study addresses the concerns that have been brought up tonight, study also says that it will continue to address them as they proceed. This is a viable approach to giving you safety in the downtown areas, and gives you the opportunity to progress your industrial areas. Carl Bryant, 13360 Rivercrest Drive, offers his support of the 143rd Street Extension. Its time to do something for Plainfield and to get our traffic under control. Ray Holmamis, 16328 Peerless Court, In favor of the 143rd Street Extension. It solves some problems, but in the same fact, it creates some multiple roadway problems, i.e. !-30 traffic on 1-55 will create traffic jams on Rt. 30 exit; it will also create another problem at Rt. 125. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEPTEMBER 8, 1999 PAGE FOUR John Bates, 515 Dillman, MainStreet, Plainfield. The truck traffic that floods the downtown area must be relocated in order to reclaim the downtown as a shopping district. We favor the 143rd Street extension. Ron Kazmar, 1519 Penny Lane, Had 10 reasons against the 143rd Street Extension. Some of those were: Join forces with other surrounding communities, expand Rt. 59 to a four-lane highway, use alternative 127th Street, does not trust consultants, does not trust Village government. Pete Bessette, 715 Division Street, Is opposed to the 143rd Street Extension and feels that 127th extension would be the better route to improve. 127th is the shortest most effective, direct route. Clarence Senders, 20 E. Copper Drive, has concerns with regard to flood issues. Noted that there is a fiber optic line along where the highlines are that you are talking about for the road and feels that this could become a problem and possible the fiber optics might have to be removed. Kurt Stalzer, 706 N. DesPlaines Street, In favor of the 143rd Street extension. We need east-west road to take care of north-south traffic. Tom Mooney, 1900 Plainfield Road, I urge the Village to take action in examining all the issues, work with other communities and reroute the traffic around town. Larry Vaupel, Economic Development Director, Village of Plainfield. The extension of 143rd Street to Route 126 and the improvement of the interchange at Route 126 and 1-55 could be the most significant economic development policy from the Village Board since the Creation of the doWntown TIF District. The EDC strongly recommends the Village Board proceeds with Phase 1 engineering for the extension of 143rd Street. Amy Potter, 413 Main Street, Has environmental and wildlife concerns and is opposed to the 143rd Street Extension. Chris Svaboda, Romeoville, He feels that the 143rd Street Extension is a mistake and will make traffic unbearable. Continue Rt. 30 straight south to Renwick Road. Trucks need to get out of Plainfield. Improve Rt. 126 interchange, improve Route 59. Nancy Berinis, 23242 Pilcher Road, She fully supports the 143rd Street extension. It will improve safety and increase commercial by creating a commercial corridor. George Milton, 34 Ottawa Street, In favor of 143rd Street. Build a better future and build the new extension on 143rd Street. Mark Bessette, 7'15 Division Street, Also opposed to the extension of 143rd Street and feels the better crossing would be 127th Street and has less negative impact. John Peterson, 213 Ottawa Street, He is not in favor of 143rd Street Extension, he favors 119th Street. Unless the whole community is united he feels that the 143rd Street will never become reality. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES SEPTEMBER 8, 1999 PAGE FIVE Christopher Russ, 1347 N. Naperville, Has Taylor Rd. ever been addressed? He has heard that Taylor Road is 143rd Street. Ronald E. Steinacher, 23236 Pilcher Rd., strongly supports alternative traffic routes. I applaud your efforts to solve our traffic problems. Helen Savageau, 1500 N. Naperville Road, questioned IDOT's plans for alternative routes when Rt. 59 and viaduct will be fixed. Nick Santo, 13449 Lakeshore Drive, supports 143rd Street Extension. We need to encourage industrial development. Mr. Herbst, 261 Main Street. Favor the 143rd Street Extension. We need to eliminateTruck Traffic downtown and provide a viable commercial-Industrial corridor and expand Plainfield's tax base. Resident, 16140 Howard, favor of the 143rd Street Extension. We need to proceed with Phase 1 Engineering next. Susan Wiley, 141 E. Copper Drive opposed to the 143rd Street Extension and asks the President and Board Members that before they decide to go on to the next phase to please take a walk behind our houses. We urge you to do a traffic study. Presented petition with over 600 signatures that are opposed to the Extension. V. C. Strourdis, 6 Lake Drive, strongly urge you to proceed with the 143rd Street Extension. We must take action. We need alternative traffic routes. Cindy D'Arcy Nielsen, 5 Lakeside Drive, Opposed to the Extension of 143rd Street and feels that 127th Street would be the better alternative. Judy Avery, 21 Copper Drive, opposes the 143rd Street Extension and feels that it will not solve our traffic problems. Resident, Walker Road, Is very opposed to the 143rd Street Extension and believes that 127th Street would be the better route with less impact. Jay Darnell, 910 Penn Road, He supports 143rd Street Extension. IDOT supports the 143rd Street Extension. Tom Baker, 151 E. Copper Drive, Is opposed to the 143rd Street extension and feels that 90% of our traffic is north and south. All petitions in favor of and against the Extension of 143rd Street have been incorporated into my minutes. S. Calabrese moved to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by K. O'Connell. Voice vote. 6 yes, 0 no. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. ._~ __. ~/~ ~_..! ¢_.,,,.', ..: ' , ~. ~,~', Susan Janik, Village Clerk