State: ILLINOIS

Agency: ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION – DISTRICT 2

Project and/or Route Name: U.S. ROUTE 20

JO-DAVIESS AND STEPHENSON COUNTIES, ILLINOIS

Dates: 1993 – PRESENT

Rural and/or Urban: RURAL

Length: OVER 50 MILES

Type of Improvement: FOUR-LANE HIGHWAY ON NEW ALIGNMENT

Firm's Project Engineer: J. PAUL BIGGERS, P.E., ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGER

Project Description:

Johnson, Depp & Quisenberry (JDQ) is under contract with Louis Berger & Associates in support of a Location/Design Study and an Environmental Impact Statement for a new alignment of U.S. Route 20 in Jo Daviess and Stephenson Counties for the Illinois Department of Transportation. JDQ is managing and leading the implementation of the public involvement program and providing general oversight of environmental work.

The public involvement program was designed to include interested and affected individuals early in the planning process so that informed consent could be reached on a new highway alignment. The scope of this program includes public involvement strategy, public affairs management, news media relations, and coordination with local, state and federal government officials,. By integrating the public early in the planning process, emerging issues, misperceptions, and information needs were able to be identified and addressed.

A mix of traditional and innovative public involvement tools were applied during this program, including a citizens guide, project newsletters, audio-visual presentations, and information coordination, including specialized and comprehensive mailing lists and a project 800-number for public use. Handling citizen concerns from two counties was handled primarily through a modified citizen advisory group format.

Work groups were formed on agriculture, environment, tourism, government, and economic development. These work groups identified and assessed impacts on each alignment under consideration through facilitated meetings.

An advisory council consisting of representatives from each work group is comparing alignments based on their perceptions of impacts. The advisory council will present a report on its conclusions to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

JDQ has received an overall performance evaluation of “excellent” from IDOT on the public involvement program for this project. Responses from citizens, work group representatives, and news media coverage reflect a resolution of many issues and concerns that has led to widespread support for this project.