Tollway Station Point Transit Oriented Development plans advanced this past year with the following:

The City of Belvidere and the Village of Cherry Valley mutually agreed to enter into a development boundary agreement.  This is the first formalized agreement between the two communities and provides an important goal of managing and attracting the quality development desired by both communities.  The boundary was established at Wheeler Road in Boone County.

The City of Belvidere completed a growth management study supporting a long range capital development plan to include the Tollway Station Point area.

Through a series of meetings with the Illinois Toll Highway Authority, the proposed Irene Road/I-90 interchange advanced from the planning stage to the design and construction bid stage for the westbound exit ramp. Work on the westbound exit ramp is expected to begin in 2008. The Tollway Station Point Project Management Team continues to be in full discussion with the Tollway Authority regarding the construction of the remaining three quadrants of a full diamond interchange. 

Northern Illinois Commuter Transit Initiative Awaits Selection of LPA  

The Alternative Analysis study continues to progress and a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) is expected to be selected in early 2008. The study is the next step in the Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) process in identifying a viable solution for transportation issues in Belvidere and Northern Illinois.

The NICTI Executive Committee has instructed the consultants to complete the ridership and cost studies for the four remaining locally preferred alternatives. The alternatives that move forward are carefully evaluated based on criteria such as ridership forecasts, operating plans, cost effectiveness and financial feasibility, analysis of social and environmental impacts and identify supportive land uses. As the Alternative Analysis progresses through the screening process and the evaluation of criteria are applied, options within the wide range of alternatives are eliminated until there is a solution—a Locally Preferred Alternative .

Each alternative was evaluated against how well they achieved the projects goal and objectives, and identified the level of effectiveness of those alternatives.

Dave Taylor, represents Growth Dimensions as the chair of the NICTI committee.

Please visit www.nicti.net for more information on the Initiative and the stage of the Alternative Analysis Study.