Illinois 47 Study is Gaining Steam

By William Presecky, Chicago Tribune

Oct. 30–Officials from Kane and McHenry Counties and the City of Woodstock are laying the groundwork to proceed with a land-use-and-transportation-needs study of the Illinois Highway 47 corridor from the Wisconsin border to Kendall County.

The estimated $280,000 study will be funded largely with a $252,000 state-planning grant awarded to Woodstock. Kane and McHenry are obligated to cover 10 percent of the project costs, and the state grant includes a 10 percent federal match.

Kane was selected to be the lead agency for administrative purposes.

If Kane receives the approvals needed to hire a consultant and initiate the study, work on the project would begin in early 2008, said Carl Schoedel, Kane’s director of transportation. It will take at least a year to complete the study, he said.

The committee voted unanimously Monday to recommend board approval of the intergovernmental agreements needed to study the nearly 54-mile highway corridor.

Woodstock already “has appropriated funds and is looking forward to moving ahead,” City Manager Tim Clifton said.

Although yet to be approved formally by McHenry County officials, “We are definitely on board,” said Chalen Hunter, planning liaison for the McHenry Council of Mayors.

Woodstock, Kane and McHenry each had applied to the state for Illinois Tomorrow corridor study grants. In addition to those areas, the planning process will involve about a dozen municipalities with jurisdiction along the major north-south highway corridor.

It also will include transportation representatives, the area’s transit service boards and other special interest groups with a stake in the future of Illinois 47.

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bpresecky@tribune.com

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