ATTENDEES: Arnold Andrews, Mayor of Alsip; Ray Bodnar, Metro Southwest Alliance; Frank Gassmere, Village of Crestwood; Jerry Hurckes, Congressman Lipinski’s office; Marty Joyce, HDR Engineers; Richard Kelly, Bremen Township; Lynn Krauss, Village of Oak Lawn; Chuck Krezwick, Calumet Township; Mike Mertins, Village of Tinley Park; Nora Moreland, Metro Southwest Alliance; Thomas Murawski, Village of Midlothian; John Paige, NIPC; Honorable Patrick J. O’Malley, State Senator; Buster Porch, Village of Calumet Park; Bunny Anderson, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority; Mike Scholefield, Baxter & Woodman; Phil Simon, Oak Forest; Vicky Smith, Southwest Conference of Local Governments; J.D. Stokes, Federal Highway Administration; Don Thomas, Baxter & amp; Woodman; Dr. Richard Yanikoski, St. Xavier University; Ed Zak, IDOT.

1. WELCOME/INTRODUCTIONS

 

Council Chairman Dick Kelly welcomed the members and asked for a moment of silent prayer for the space shuttle. We then had self introductions.

 

2. DATA BASE PREPARATION – GIS UPDATE

Mike Scholefield, Regional Manager, Baxter & Woodman gave the following update on GIS activity.

1. GIS AREA EXPANSION. Baxter & Woodman and Metro Southwest Alliance staff are currently investigating the possibility of expanding the current corridor database to encompass the entire Southwest Alliance area. This would cover approximately 160 squa re miles and incorporate 35 municipalities in two counties. The estimated population totals 520,000. This undertaking would complement the corridor work, utilizing the same data files.

 

2. NIPC LAND USE FILES. The Alliance is currently working with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC) to secure the agency’s land use files for the Alliance area. The files would be added as another layer in the geographic information syste m.

 

3. GIS COORDINATION EFFORTS. On behalf of the Alliance, B&W will be working with the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, as well as neighboring corridor councils, to exchange and assimilate compatible files for further enhancement of the Southwest Corridor GIS.

 

4. GIS TURNKEY AND TRAINING. It is the intent of the GIS project to get the Alliance office "on-line" with the GIS files in order to optimize the data inquiry and dissemination process. Baxter & Woodman will be providing the installation of the progr am and files to the Alliance computer as well as initial training and support to Alliance staff.

Mike then introduced Don Thomas of Baxter & Woodman and he explained that they were investigating the recently enacted TEA-21 transportation legislation for new funding possibilities. In addition, existing grant programs through the Economic Develo pment Administration which assist regional economic development organizations are being pursued. This will assist with the major initiative regarding collection and processing of local infrastructure data into the GIS.

1. PRESENTATION ON CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA CORRIDOR COUNCIL INITIATIVES

 

John Paige, Director of Planning Services, Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission provided an overview of Corridor Council activities since 1990. NIPC is the Regional Planning Agency for Chicago, Cook County and the Collar Counties.

 

Senator O’Malley asked what John thought made our Corridor Council different from the other councils.

 

John answered by saying our group has more business leaders than the other councils. The other councils are almost exclusively governmental groups. Also, the fact that we have a smaller amount of grant money set aside for this project.

 

Senator O’Malley stated that what he felt set us apart from the other councils, besides business leaders, was that we are faced with two interstates adjacent to developed communities. We are trying to make the area more conducive to new development. Be cause of these reasons we are advocating a full interchange in these communities to encourage the growth of new jobs.

 

He asked John Paige to support our decision and make a recommendation to his board of directors for a full interchange. John said that he would do this.

 

2. REPORT ON THE PROPOSED I-294/I-57 INTERCHANGE ALTERNATIVES

Bunny Anderson, Commercial Affairs Liaison, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority stated the Tollway does not receive state funding. All funding comes out of the revenue collected from tolls. This is why they have to be very careful of what projects th ey choose to fund.

Dr. Yanikoski asked Bunny what criteria they use for "return on investment" when deciding whether or not to undertake a project.

Marty Joyce, Senior Vice President, HDR Engineers answered that question.

• The flow of traffic must move as efficiently as possible.
• It must attract traffic to the interstate to add revenue to the system.
• They must also consider the length of time it will take to pay back the bonds.

Tom Murawski made a motion for the Council to write a formal recommendation for a full interchange. The motion was approved. This recommendation will be brought to the next Alliance Board of Directors for their approval.

Dick Kelly asked if the trucks on the highway will get an IPASS. He stated that their companies would probably be willing to pay a higher fee for the quicker transport of merchandise. Bunny stated that this is something that is long term on their agend a.

1. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REPORT BY CORRIDOR COUNCIL MEMBER

Phil Simon, Community Development Coordinator, provided an overview of the ongoing economic development activities in Oak Forest.

Phil said when he started the project new business had just been brought to Oak Forest.

1. He stated that along Cicero Avenue south of 147^th street there were auto dealers. The Oak Forest lots were significantly smaller and could not accommodate this type of business. Zoning only went a ½ block deep. They rezoned the area with de eper front lots so that bigger business could develop on them.

 

2. There were many small homes on very large lots. They hired developers to come and put smaller lots in. The lot sizes are now 30,000 square feet. They had to make lot sizes smaller to bring new development into the area.

 

3. Oak Forest has the 18^th busiest train station. It is the busiest from Chicago to Joliet. It has the highest drive to station statistics in the area. Oak Forest is planning to build condominiums or apartment buildings adjacent to the train station.

Phil Simon concluded by saying that economic development plans can be achieved by working with land use studies.

1. COORDINATION WITH THE NEW I-57 CORRIDOR COUNCIL

 

Ray Bodnar stated we will be coordinating future efforts with the I-57 Corridor Council.

 

 

 

 

 

2. GENERAL DISCUSSION/NEXT STEPS

 

Senator O’Malley reported that the Fall veto session will begin on November 5, 1998. A caucus will be called to discuss the results of the election. They will be working on the governor’s vetos and amendments including pension enhancements and gamb ling legislation. The agenda will depend on the results of the election.

 

 

3. OTHER BUSINESS

Mayor Buster Porch of Calumet Park talked about business development along I-57. He said the grass was cut but the trees block the view of these buildings from the expressway. He asked how to get the trees trimmed. Ed Zak from IDOT told him to write a formal request to Mr. Fonda.