The Village Board last week approved spending $19,500 on a long-range traffic study–with two developers picking up the tab.
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Kirk Corp. and Pulte Homes, both of which are planning to build large subdivisions in the village, agreed to split the cost of the study that will determine how their projects and other future developments will impact local roads. “I applaud Kirk and Pulte because they’re nowhere near through with our approval process, but they’re willing to invest in planning information that will benefit the entire village,” said Village President James Willey.
The study will focus on Illinois Highway 47 between Hughes Road and a half mile north of Illinois Highway 38, as well as about a 2-mile stretch of Illinois 38 at Illinois 47; a 2-mile stretch of Keslinger Road at Illinois 47; a half-mile stretch of South Street at Illinois 47; the intersection of Stetzer Street and Illinois 47; and Oak Street between South and Illinois 38.
Engineers from Kenig, Lindgren, O’Hara, Alboona Inc. will gauge how much new traffic would result from 20 planned or potential developments, including the Metra station, Pulte North and South, Kirk Homes, Prairie Valley North Commercial Center, strip malls on the southwest and northwest corners of Illinois 38 and 47, Blackberry Creek, Williams Ridge and Deerpath.
The findings of the six-week study will help board members place limits on development density and land use for decades to come, Willey said. “It’s easy to put all your focus on a single project that’s under consideration. We’re trying very hard to step back from the map and see how each development will fit into the future of the town. Things are coming at us pretty fast these days. The decisions we make today will affect the village 10, 20, 100 years from now.”