Prairie Parkway
Encyclopedia
The Prairie Parkway is a transportation project by the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT) to connect Interstate 80
to Interstate 88
in the outer western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.
to I-88 near Elburn
was protected from development in Grundy, Kendall
and Kane
counties under Illinois' Corridor Protection Act.
A legal challenge to the state's Corridor Protection Act for the Prairie Parkway was unanimously rejected by the Illinois Supreme Court. This decision was later appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear the case.
On November 28, 2007, IDOT announced a revised Corridor Protection Map was recorded that superseded the original map. The new Corridor Protection Map follows the B5 freeway corridor.
Corridor Protection Press Release
A report within the study indicated that, by the year 2030, there would be significant population growth in the study area and most of the area's roads would be congested as a result. Three counties in the study area - Will
, Kendall
and Kane
- were among the 100 fastest growing counties in the U.S. from 2000 to 2004. As a possible solution to the area's traffic problems, a number of alternatives were considered, including widening existing roads, new freeways, traffic management techniques, and transit extensions.
In August 2005 President Bush
signed the SAFETEA-LU federal transportation bill, which included $207 million for construction of the Prairie Parkway. The strongest supporter of that provision was House Speaker
Dennis Hastert
, who owned real estate in the area affected by the parkway. The SAFETEA-LU bill was supported by all 19 members of Illinois' congressional delegation as well as the state's U.S. Senators, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama
.
In October 2005 IDOT presented three options for further study:
1. A "no build" alternative consisting of planned improvements to IL 47
and WiKaDuKe Trail independent of building a new Prairie Parkway freeway.
2. A "build" alternative consisting of the 34 miles (54.7 km) B2 freeway corridor paralleling IL 47
to the west, connecting to I-88 northeast of Kaneville
and connecting to I-80 west of Morris
, plus upgrading a 12 miles (19.3 km) segment of IL 47
from Caton Farm Road to Morris.
3. A "build" alternative consisting of the 37 miles (59.5 km) B5 freeway corridor, connecting to I-88 northeast of Kaneville
, diverting to the east crossing IL 47
south of Yorkville
, and connecting to I-80 west of Minooka
, plus upgrading a 12 miles (19.3 km) segment of IL 47
from Caton Farm Road to Morris
.
In February 2008, the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project was released.
The federal Record of Decision approving the project was signed on September 19, 2008. Friends of the Fox River and Citizens Against the Sprawlway filed a lawsuit on March 25, 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago against the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for violating Federal law in how it approved the Prairie Parkway project.
and then turn southeast and terminate on I-80 near Minooka, Illinois
. IL 47
would also be widened from Caton Farm Road to I-80.
Construction of the segment from U.S. Route 30 to Illinois Route 71 was previously programmed by IDOT.
However, IDOT's FY 2010-2015 Proposed Highway Improvement Plan released in 2009 included funds for preliminary engineering and land acquisition only.
take over jurisdiction of the Prairie Parkway from IDOT.
(D-14th) has indicated he will try to move some of the Prairie Parkway funding to other projects.
In May 2009 the Illinois Department of Transportation dropped all construction funding for the Prairie Parkway from its 2010-2015 Highway Improvement Program, the funding blueprint for future highway projects. IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig cited litigation and a lack of local consensus as the reason construction funding was removed from the plan. The previous Highway Improvement Program (2009-2014) allocated $207 million for engineering, land acquisition, and construction.
However, $0.9 million for "P.E. Soils" and $1.5 million for "Land Acquisition" was included in the IDOT 2010-2015 program for the Prairie Parkway.
, which is currently in planning by the states of Indiana and Illinois, would connect Interstate 55
to Interstate 65
and its routing would roughly approximate the southern portion of the outer encircling highway concept. A short connection between the Prairie Parkway and Illiana would result in a continuous connecting route of approximately 100 miles from Interstate 88
to Interstate 65
around the western and southern suburbs of Chicago. All three projects (Prairie Parkway, Illiana, and an I-55 to I-80 connector) are included in Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
's Go to 2040 regional plan, although none of them are listed as priority projects for this planning period.
Illinois Department of Transportation
The Illinois Department of Transportation is a state agency in charge of state-maintained public roadways of the U.S. state of Illinois. In addition, IDOT provides funding for rail, public transit and airport projects and administers fuel tax and federal funding to local juridictions in the...
(IDOT) to connect Interstate 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
to Interstate 88
Interstate 88 (west)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway in the state of Illinois. It runs from an interchange with Interstate 80 near Silvis and Moline to an interchange with Interstates 290 and 294 in Hillside, near Chicago...
in the outer western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.
Corridor protection
In July 2002 a planning corridor from I-80 near MinookaMinooka, Illinois
Minooka is a village in Grundy, Kendall, and Will Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,924 at the 2010 census. Minooka currently has two high schools in its district, a campus for juniors and seniors and a newer campus for freshman and sophomores. Minooka School District 201 ...
to I-88 near Elburn
Elburn, Illinois
Elburn is a village in Kane County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,751 as of 2006. It is located at the intersection of Illinois Route 38 and Route 47...
was protected from development in Grundy, Kendall
Kendall County, Illinois
Kendall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 114,736, which is an increase of 110% from 54,544 in 2000. It was the fastest-growing county in the United States between the years 2000 and...
and Kane
Kane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
counties under Illinois' Corridor Protection Act.
A legal challenge to the state's Corridor Protection Act for the Prairie Parkway was unanimously rejected by the Illinois Supreme Court. This decision was later appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which refused to hear the case.
On November 28, 2007, IDOT announced a revised Corridor Protection Map was recorded that superseded the original map. The new Corridor Protection Map follows the B5 freeway corridor.
Corridor Protection Press Release
Preliminary engineering study
A study was started in 2003 to examine transportation issues and possible solutions in roughly the same area as the corridor.A report within the study indicated that, by the year 2030, there would be significant population growth in the study area and most of the area's roads would be congested as a result. Three counties in the study area - Will
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
, Kendall
Kendall County, Illinois
Kendall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 114,736, which is an increase of 110% from 54,544 in 2000. It was the fastest-growing county in the United States between the years 2000 and...
and Kane
Kane County, Illinois
Kane County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 515,269, which is an increase of 27.5% from 404,119 in 2000. Its county seat is Geneva, and its largest city is Aurora.- Geography :...
- were among the 100 fastest growing counties in the U.S. from 2000 to 2004. As a possible solution to the area's traffic problems, a number of alternatives were considered, including widening existing roads, new freeways, traffic management techniques, and transit extensions.
In August 2005 President Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
signed the SAFETEA-LU federal transportation bill, which included $207 million for construction of the Prairie Parkway. The strongest supporter of that provision was House Speaker
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
Dennis Hastert
Dennis Hastert
John Dennis "Denny" Hastert was the 59th Speaker of the House serving from 1999 to 2007. He represented as a Republican for twenty years, 1987 to 2007.He is the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history...
, who owned real estate in the area affected by the parkway. The SAFETEA-LU bill was supported by all 19 members of Illinois' congressional delegation as well as the state's U.S. Senators, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
.
In October 2005 IDOT presented three options for further study:
1. A "no build" alternative consisting of planned improvements to IL 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
and WiKaDuKe Trail independent of building a new Prairie Parkway freeway.
2. A "build" alternative consisting of the 34 miles (54.7 km) B2 freeway corridor paralleling IL 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
to the west, connecting to I-88 northeast of Kaneville
Kaneville, Illinois
Kaneville is a village in southwestern Kane County, Illinois, United States. It was incorporated in November 2006 and the first elected officials were chosen in elections held on April 17, 2007. The village had a population of 484 at the 2010 census. Kaneville is part of the Chicago metropolitan...
and connecting to I-80 west of Morris
Morris, Illinois
Morris is a city in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,636 at the 2010 census.Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply for the Chicago metropolitan area...
, plus upgrading a 12 miles (19.3 km) segment of IL 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
from Caton Farm Road to Morris.
3. A "build" alternative consisting of the 37 miles (59.5 km) B5 freeway corridor, connecting to I-88 northeast of Kaneville
Kaneville, Illinois
Kaneville is a village in southwestern Kane County, Illinois, United States. It was incorporated in November 2006 and the first elected officials were chosen in elections held on April 17, 2007. The village had a population of 484 at the 2010 census. Kaneville is part of the Chicago metropolitan...
, diverting to the east crossing IL 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
south of Yorkville
Yorkville, Illinois
Yorkville is a city located in Kendall County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,189 at the 2000 United States Census and is estimated to be 16,505, . It is the county seat of Kendall County...
, and connecting to I-80 west of Minooka
Minooka, Illinois
Minooka is a village in Grundy, Kendall, and Will Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,924 at the 2010 census. Minooka currently has two high schools in its district, a campus for juniors and seniors and a newer campus for freshman and sophomores. Minooka School District 201 ...
, plus upgrading a 12 miles (19.3 km) segment of IL 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
from Caton Farm Road to Morris
Morris, Illinois
Morris is a city in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,636 at the 2010 census.Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply for the Chicago metropolitan area...
.
Environmental Impact Statement
In November 2006, the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project was released.In February 2008, the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project was released.
The federal Record of Decision approving the project was signed on September 19, 2008. Friends of the Fox River and Citizens Against the Sprawlway filed a lawsuit on March 25, 2009 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago against the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for violating Federal law in how it approved the Prairie Parkway project.
Preferred alternative chosen
On June 1, 2007, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced the selection of B5 as the final route, which will run about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of IL 47Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
and then turn southeast and terminate on I-80 near Minooka, Illinois
Minooka, Illinois
Minooka is a village in Grundy, Kendall, and Will Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,924 at the 2010 census. Minooka currently has two high schools in its district, a campus for juniors and seniors and a newer campus for freshman and sophomores. Minooka School District 201 ...
. IL 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
would also be widened from Caton Farm Road to I-80.
Construction of the segment from U.S. Route 30 to Illinois Route 71 was previously programmed by IDOT.
However, IDOT's FY 2010-2015 Proposed Highway Improvement Plan released in 2009 included funds for preliminary engineering and land acquisition only.
Voters in five townships oppose Prairie Parkway in advisory referenda
In April 2007 voters in two Kane County townships, Kaneville and Big Rock, overwhelmingly opposed the Prairie Parkway in advisory referenda. In February 2008 voters in three Kendall County townships, Fox, Lisbon and Seward, followed suit.Tollway proposal
Kendall County board chairwoman Anne Vickery has requested that the Illinois State Toll Highway AuthorityIllinois State Toll Highway Authority
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is an instrumentality and administrative agency of the State of Illinois, United States. The roads, as well as the Authority itself, are sometimes referred to as the Illinois Tollway...
take over jurisdiction of the Prairie Parkway from IDOT.
Construction funding dropped from state highway plans
In April 2009, Congressman Bill FosterBill Foster (Illinois politician)
George William "Bill" Foster is a physicist and businessman, and the former U.S. Representative for , serving from 2008 until 2011. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life and education:...
(D-14th) has indicated he will try to move some of the Prairie Parkway funding to other projects.
In May 2009 the Illinois Department of Transportation dropped all construction funding for the Prairie Parkway from its 2010-2015 Highway Improvement Program, the funding blueprint for future highway projects. IDOT Secretary Gary Hannig cited litigation and a lack of local consensus as the reason construction funding was removed from the plan. The previous Highway Improvement Program (2009-2014) allocated $207 million for engineering, land acquisition, and construction.
However, $0.9 million for "P.E. Soils" and $1.5 million for "Land Acquisition" was included in the IDOT 2010-2015 program for the Prairie Parkway.
Renewed push for Prairie Parkway from area officials
A group of area governmental and labor officials including Kane County board chairwoman Karen McConnaughay, Kendall County board chairwoman Anne Vickery, Grundy County board chairman Frank Halpin, Yorkville mayor Valerie Burd, Plano mayor Bob Hausler, Sugar Grove village president Sean Michels, Chicago AFL-CIO President Dennis Gannon and others met with IL Governor Pat Quinn's staff to renew the local push to complete the Prairie Parkway project. Referring to Rep. Foster's attempt to de-fund the project, Vickery stated "Mr. Foster seems to be driven by a very small faction of people who are against the Parkway. There is a much broader group of people who are interested in this transportation corridor."Future connectivity with other projects
An outer loop highway around the perimeter of the Chicago area has been in conceptual planning for over 100 years. The 1909 "Plan of Chicago", authored by Daniel Burnham and Edward Bennett, included an "outer encircling highway" with a western portion roughly approximating the Prairie Parkway route. The Illiana ExpresswayIlliana Expressway
The Illiana Corridor is a proposed transportation corridor between northern portions of the U.S. states of Illinois and Indiana. Formal Environmental Impact Statement studies were begun in April 2011 and are being led jointly by the Illinois Department of Transportation and Indiana Department of...
, which is currently in planning by the states of Indiana and Illinois, would connect Interstate 55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
to Interstate 65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
and its routing would roughly approximate the southern portion of the outer encircling highway concept. A short connection between the Prairie Parkway and Illiana would result in a continuous connecting route of approximately 100 miles from Interstate 88
Interstate 88 (west)
Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway in the state of Illinois. It runs from an interchange with Interstate 80 near Silvis and Moline to an interchange with Interstates 290 and 294 in Hillside, near Chicago...
to Interstate 65
Interstate 65
Interstate 65 is a major Interstate Highway in the United States. The southern terminus is located at an intersection with Interstate 10 in Mobile, Alabama, and its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 , U.S. Route 12, and U.S...
around the western and southern suburbs of Chicago. All three projects (Prairie Parkway, Illiana, and an I-55 to I-80 connector) are included in Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning is an agency that integrates land use planning and transportation planning for the counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will in northeastern Illinois...
's Go to 2040 regional plan, although none of them are listed as priority projects for this planning period.
Future exits
- Interstate 80Interstate 80 in IllinoisIn the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 80 is an Interstate Highway that runs from the Quad Cities east to south of Chicago. It is a main east–west route for trafficcoming and going through Illinois, especially for cross-country truckers....
- U.S. Route 52
- Illinois Route 47Illinois Route 47Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
- Illinois Route 71Illinois Route 71Illinois Route 71 is a long southwest-to-northeast state highway in north central Illinois. It runs from the end of Interstate 180 in Hennepin to U.S. Route 34 in Oswego...
- U.S. Route 34U.S. Route 34 in IllinoisIn the U.S. state of Illinois, U.S. Route 34 is an east–west highway that runs from the Iowa state line at Gulport west of Galesburg to Illinois Route 43 and Historic US 66 at Harlem Avenue in Berwyn. The entire highway in Illinois is named the "Walter Payton Memorial Highway"...
- U.S. Route 30U.S. Route 30 in IllinoisIn the state of Illinois, U.S. Route 30 is an east–west arterial surface road in northern Illinois. It runs from across the Mississippi River from Clinton, Iowa to Lynwood at the Indiana state line. This is a distance of ....
- Interstate 88Interstate 88 (west)Interstate 88 is an intrastate Interstate Highway in the state of Illinois. It runs from an interchange with Interstate 80 near Silvis and Moline to an interchange with Interstates 290 and 294 in Hillside, near Chicago...