Cook County seeks public input on long range transportation plan

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle set in motion the development of a plan that will look at the County’s transportation network and its impact on economic growth and quality of life over the next 25 years.

“We can no longer continue to make one-off transportation investments. We need a coherent strategy. The County should invest in transportation as a way to foster economic development and create communities that are desirable places to live and work,” Preckwinkle said. “With more than half of the metropolitan region’s population, jobs and businesses, Cook County should be a leader in planning, prioritizing and aligning resources. We want to ensure Cook County’s transportation investments are sensible, coordinated, and support growth.”

Called “Connecting Cook County,” the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) will be developed over the next 18 months. Cook County’s last comprehensive transportation plan, now more than 70 years ago, identified the corridors for the today’s Chicago-area expressway system. This LRTP is expected to set an agenda through 2040.

Preckwinkle named a 17-member Advisory Committee composed of business leaders, along with representatives from civic groups, local governments, and economic development organizations, to give a broad voice to the various interests groups and their concerns. She also named a 15-member Program Committee of transportation professionals and specialists who will bring their specific areas of expertise to the table.

The process places great importance on asking County residents and business owners for their opinions on transportation strengths, weaknesses and priorities in the communities where they live and work. The public will be asked to weigh in on the plan via a web site and through kiosks equipped with interactive planning software that will rotate through high-traffic County locations over a nine-month period… Please click here to read more, or here to take the survey.

Kiosks will initially be placed at the following locations:

Lansing Public Library, 2750 Indiana Ave., Lansing Chicago Heights Public Library, 25 W. 15th St., Chicago Heights North Pulaski Library, 4300 W. North Ave., Chicago Mount Prospect Library, 10 S. Emerson, Mount Prospect Daley College, 7500 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg