Citizens for Appropriate Transportation (CAT)
The Eisenhower
Transportation Corridor
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
STATEMENT
We
need a commitment from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to
prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed widening of
the Eisenhower Expressway. Currently, IDOT is committed only to an
Environmental Assessment, which does not offer the same protection as an
Environmental Impact Statement.
The
National Environmental Policy Act requires an agency proposing a major project
to prepare a detailed Environmental Impact Statement. By contrast, an
Environmental Assessment does not contain either the same level of detail or
public involvement that an EIS does. An Environmental Impact Statement has four
requirements that help us.
1.
EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE AND NEED OF THE PROJECT
An
Environmental Impact Statement requires a formal explanation of the underlying
purpose and need that IDOT is responding to by planning to add two
High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes. HOV lanes are also known as car pool lanes.
The Purpose and Need Statement should clearly explain to decision-makers and
the public why the estimated $800 million dollar expenditure of funds for two
High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes is necessary and worthwhile. The Purpose and Need
statement should compare present conditions with future build and no-build
conditions. The Purpose and Need statement provides a basis to evaluate
alternative solutions in order to determine if HOV lanes are really the best
solution.
2.
IDENTIFY ALL REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES
An
Environmental Impact Statement requires IDOT to analyze all prudent and
feasible alternatives to achieve the purpose and need of the project. Federal
regulations require that an EIS "rigorously explore and objectively
evaluate all reasonable alternatives" including the No-Action (No-Build)
Alternative. The intent is to avoid or minimize adverse effects on the quality
of the human environment. Exploring just the addition of HOV lanes is not
enough. IDOT should consider the full spectrum of alternatives. Some other
alternatives that should be analyzed include extending the CTA Blue Line
further west, improving service on Metra's Union Pacific West Line to Geneva
and the Burlington Northern Line to Aurora, and digging deeper in the ditch so
that the Ike is further down. If IDOT must rebuild the Ike, then they should
consider ways to better connect the neighborhoods on both sides of the
expressway. More and better designed bridges, and much wider bridges to provide
a better environment for pedestrians and bicyclists are all design features
that should be considered.
3.
ANALYZE ALL ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES
An
Environmental Impact Statement requires a hard look at the environmental
consequences. On an average weekday, the Ike carries about 200,000 vehicles a
day. The projected traffic in the Year 2020 is about 270,000 vehicles a day, a
35 percent increase. Some obvious environmental impacts include air and noise
pollution, traffic, impact on property values, property acquisition, vibration
from the freight trains, community cohesion, and environmental justice.
Vibration is not normally analyzed in a highway project, but it should be
studied in this case because of the rail freight tracks in the Ike Corridor.
Environmental Justice is a public policy goal intended to ensure that any
adverse human health or environmental effects of government projects, such as
the proposed expansion of the Eisenhower Expressway, do not fall on minority or
low-income populations in a disproportionate manner.
4.
ENCOURAGE AND FACILITATE PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
An
Environmental Impact Statement requires IDOT to provide information to the
public, which may in turn assist IDOT in making better decisions through the
public comment process. If IDOT prepares an Environmental Impact Statement,
they must prepare both a Draft and a Final EIS and both must be made available
to the public. The public must have the opportunity to comment on the Draft
EIS, and IDOT must respond in writing in the Final EIS to all comments. Then
the Federal Highway Administration has the ultimate responsibility to ensure
compliance with all requirements.
CONCLUSION
The
proposed HOV lanes are one of the regionally significant projects in the Regional
Transportation Plan for the Year 2020. Asking for a full EIS is a reasonable
expectation. We have included the names, addresses, and telephone numbers for
our elected federal and state representatives and ask that you contact them to
request their help in getting IDOT committed to the preparation of an EIS. They
do not have to take a position for or against the HOV lanes. We are asking them
to be committed to providing all of us with the information normally contained
in an EIS.
Rick
Kuner - June 2002
CAT
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