New Interchanges

New interchanges on an Interstate are a major economic development effort.  Major development occurs at interstates, so an interchange is a very big deal.

I have proposed eight new interstate interchanges. It takes many years from the initial plan to reality. It requires building a consensus among governments that the interchange is needed, feasibility studies and significant funds set aside.

The new interchange above just opened up on I-57 and University Parkway / Stuenkel Road. It provides direct access to Governors State University, The METRA Electric Commuter Line, and major industrial parks.  We first proposed it in a plan in 1978. So it took about 28 years from first proposal to being able to drive on the interchange.









Richton Park Plan, Illinois, Comprehensive Plan


COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 
VILLAGE OF RICHTON PARK
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY


GOALS
  • PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT
  • ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING OPTIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE
  • SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY COMMERCIAL FACILITIES
  • PROMOTE QUALITY INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE DEVELOPMENT
  • PROVIDE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
  • PROVIDE EXCELLENT TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
  • SUPPORT QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES

1.  PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT
a.  Provide for a complete range of land uses in an orderly,
harmonious fashion.
b.  Improve the quality of the air and water.
d.  Protect floodplain and wetlands and  incorporate them into the Village open space system.
2.  ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING OPTIONS FOR ALL PEOPLE
a.  Encourage the development of a variety of housing  types at various economic levels and at various intensities.
b.  Require quality construction and maintenance of all dwellings.
c.  Assure that all persons regardless of race, color, or creed have equal    opportunity to secure housing.
d.  Prevent monotonous design and appearance.
3. SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF QUALITY COMMERCIAL FACILITIES
a.  Designate certain areas as community commercial areas with a wide range of services.
b.  Insure neighborhood shopping centers which are reasonably
compact, serve the needs of area residents, and are accessible by pedestrians.
c.  Insure a high standard of maintenance and repair, control of noise, light, and odors and proper buffering from residential areas.
4.  PROMOTE QUALITY INDUSTRIAL AND OFFICE DEVELOPMENT
a.  Encourage light industry and office development to locate near the existing and planned interchanges on I-57.
b.  Insure industry's conformance to performance standards which
                        would eliminate adverse effects on the environment.
c.  Provide for adequate landscaping and buffering to assure compatibility of industrial, commercial, public, and residential uses.
5.  PROVIDE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION
a.  Develop Village parks which will serve as focal points for both athletic and aesthetic needs on a neighborhood and community wide basis.
b.  Cooperate with School Districts in providing active recreational facilities and parks located next to schools.
c.  Encourage developers to provide private or public lands for recreation adequate to serve their intended optimum population projections.  
PROVIDE EXCELLENT TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES
a.  Provide thoroughfares throughout the Village which     
will promote safe and expeditious movement of vehicular traffic while protecting residential areas from large traffic volumes.                    
b.    Provide efficient traffic circulation for auto,  pedestrians, and bikes.
c.    Provide mass transit to commercial areas, industrial complexes and
recreational areas.
d.  Plan for bikeways and pedestrian walkways to provide alternatives
                        to reliance on automobiles.
7.  SUPPORT QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES
a.  Support the school system in it's efforts to provide  quality education.
b.  Work with social service agencies to enhance their performance.

3rd Airport Plan - Richton Park Northwest Corner




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