more public meetings of interest to local cyclists

The Illinois Department of Transportation will hold public hearings to discuss its Highway Improvement Plans this week.  The meetings will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. this Wednesday, January 20^th, at the Champaign County Highway Building, located at 1605 E. Main St., U, and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday, January 21^st, at the University of Illinois Extension Office, 12190 U.S. 150 in Oakwood.

Why should we care?  Cynthia Hoyle spells it out in an article for Smile Politely.  In a nutshell:

IDOT has proposed spending $1 million to build a pedestrian overpass for Curtis Road and I-57. This proposal has raised questions as to why it was necessary to build a separate bridge for pedestrians when sidewalks and bike lanes could have been included in the new overpass for Curtis Road that was opened last year. 

Questions have also been raised about why facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists are not being built for other overpasses such as Windsor and/or Kirby in Champaign.  Many residents now live west of I-57 and those who cannot drive and must bicycle, walk, or access transit are in serious danger when crossing over these overpasses crowded with motor vehicles.

Another point of controversy is that the Illinois Legislature passed a “Complete Streets” bill that required IDOT to design all future IDOT road projects to include facilities for all roadway users including pedestrians and bicyclists. This bill was passed in 2007 and has yet to be fully implemented.

 These meetings are a chance to tell IDOT you want more cycle-friendly roads.