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Highway survey reveals limiting sprawl, preserving rural areas
By M.K. Guetersloh
mkguetersloh@pantagraph.com
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NORMAL -- Limiting sprawl and preserving agricultural or rural areas are important to those participating in a public survey related to the proposed highway on Bloomington-Normal’s east side.

Those goals rank higher than having access to Interstates 55 and 74 but not as high as maintaining residential areas.

The results of the survey — also called a context audit — done by Champaign-based engineering firm Clark Dietz were discussed by more than 100 people at a public forum Tuesday at Normal Community High School. They also discussed projected traffic demands in the area of the proposed highway.

“This is where we start rolling up our sleeves and really get to work here,” said Jerry Payonk from Clark Dietz. “This is where we look at the context audit and come up with a consensus on the project.”

The results of Tuesday’s discussion will be summarized by engineers and developed into a plan that will be presented at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at NCHS, 3900 E. Raab Road.

The 39 priorities Clark Dietz asked participants about were divided into three categories: high, medium and low importance. Those rated by respondents in the high-priority category include limiting sprawl and having residential areas while those deemed to be of lower importance included access to U.S. 51 and Interstate 39 and attracting visitors.

According to the survey, priorities of medium importance include access to Interstates 55 and 74, Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington and the proposed Multi-Modal Transportation Center in Normal.

As part of the data presented at Tuesday’s meeting, participants discussed rough projections for the traffic load on existing roads if the highway is not build.

The intersection of Empire Street and Towanda Barnes Road could see 178 percent growth in traffic by 2035, Payonk said.

In 2005, about 4,350 vehicles a day headed east on Empire Street from the Towanda Barnes Road intersection, Payonk said. That number is projected to jump to 29,148 in the next 30 years.

Payonk said those traffic numbers and those for other intersections in Bloomington and Normal still are being reviewed by the city, town and county.

“One question that we frequently hear is ‘why does planning include growth?’” Payonk said during the presentation of the traffic counts. “Growth continues to occur in Bloomington-Normal and I think this area has the reputation of being the fastest-growing area in downstate Illinois.”

McLean County contracted with Clark Dietz to conduct the $1.1 million study to determine if and where a highway should be built east of Bloomington-Normal. A federal highway grant covers $800,000 of the cost of the study while the County along with the town of Normal and city of Bloomington are sharing the $300,000 local cost.

The study is conducted under a new model required by the Illinois Department of Transportation called Context Sensitive Solutions and is a process that includes multiple steps requiring public opinion.

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Reader comments on this story - 11 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

realevergreen wrote on Jul 18, 2007 9:34 PM:

" ust blew $1 million to read the obvious which has been on the wall for about 25 years. Send them to Springfield. No ,wait , we've lost enough down there already. "

"Coliseum" deja vu? wrote on Jul 18, 2007 8:19 PM:

" Another case of the politicians "ram-rodding" a project our public does not support! This endeavor will only benefit developers! McLean Co. has the most fertile soil on the entire planet, a fact, that is consistently ignored by those few in support of this! "

Sprawl Problem Solved wrote on Jul 18, 2007 5:05 PM:

" This was suggested at one of the groups at last night's meeting. To solve the sprawl problem, simply have all the landowners on the east side sign an agreement that they won't sell their land to developers. Think that will happen? The City and County are continually blamed for permitting developments, but it has to start with the selling of agricultural land. "

Dead Eye Dick wrote on Jul 18, 2007 2:08 PM:

" I have a feeling that OPEC will soon solve our sprawl problem for us. Or, if not solve it, at least put a big dent in it. Not only that, but it's very difficult to produce Ethanol from a highway. "

Limiting Sprawl Will Increase Property Values wrote on Jul 18, 2007 12:04 PM:

" Limiting sprawl will ultimately reduce available supply of land/property/homes. Lower supply on hand will result in higher property values. Soooo, if you look at it from the homeowner perspective getting ready to sell in such a market - GREAT. If you look at it from the homeowner perspective holding on to a home, you're in for a bigger property tax bill. "

Math wrote on Jul 18, 2007 12:03 PM:

" From "about 4350" to 29148 is 570% growth, not 178%. Projecting the exact number of cars (29148) 30 years out is silly, especially when the latest year estimate was only an "about" number. Are you sure these were engineers? "

something to consider wrote on Jul 18, 2007 9:57 AM:

" I travel frequently and we always consider the shorter route through town versus the extra miles for a bypass. Sinced all travelers with a map have that option, many choose the shorter route anyway. Maybe we should improve the shorter route for traffic flow and save money and farmland in the process. The longer route may or may not get you there faster. With these days of high gas prices it may not be worth the effort to perhaps save a few minutes in driving time during rush hour which is mainly when the congestion occurrs. "

We'll be sorry... wrote on Jul 18, 2007 8:20 AM:

" ...if we plan this highway based on limiting sprawl and preserving farmland, as it will be of no use. This city will continue to grow and eat up farmland, regardless of how anyone feels about it. If we don't plan the highway for those circumstances, and place a priority on good connections to existing expressways, it will be a waste of money, and not be of benefit to the ever-expanding community. "

no!!! wrote on Jul 18, 2007 6:58 AM:

" a east highway is a stupid idea!!thanks snyder!!and did anyone around downs,or south of rt.9 get asked their comments? "

Stop That Nasty Growth wrote on Jul 18, 2007 1:58 AM:

" Hasn't Normal effectively stopped all growth, er, I mean urban sprawl? They have no where left to go with the proposed wind farm on the north and west and the bypass road propsed on the east? Why have their growth areas been downsized in their latest planning maps to exclude previous growth areas near where the wind farm is supposed to go? "

Limiting sprawl and preserving agricultural or rural areas ? wrote on Jul 18, 2007 12:44 AM:

" That should have been thought of about 25 years back. "
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