Residents Sound Off At Interchange Public Meeting

Though their numbers were small, resident voices loomed large at Tuesday night's public meeting on the Route 41/176 Interchange Reconstruction Project at Lake Bluff Elementary School.

Here's a sampling of their thoughts:

Dick Dompke, a retired engineer who lives in Lake Forest, said he was expecting to see conceptual designs at the meeting, but was pleased that the Village is seeking public input. 

"Generally speaking, the public has very little effect on the outcome of these projects," Dompke commented.  "It should help having the advisory group [PAG].  This is a better way to approach it, because it's absolutely essential to get public input."

The Project Advisory Group (PAG) is a consortium of 20 residents, business owners and other concerned citizens, which will meet five times and provide input to the project management team for the study. Applications are available on the , and are due Dec. 3.

As attendees made their way around the room's various informational stations, Station 2 attracted the most attention. This area provided information on the transportation studies performed to date – including crash analysis, origin-destination study and pedestrian/bicycle counts. In addition, the station included a large aerial map depicting the interchange's natural and man-made features.

Lake Bluff resident Kathleen McGinniss placed her index finger on an exact point on the aerial map.

"I have lived in my house for 26 years," she said. "I have worked very hard, sometimes working two jobs, to get this far. I finally started renovating and now I have a bow window that you can sit in. I don't want them to take it away."

"I'm wondering why they want to spend so much money on something that may not be so much of a threat," McGinniss added.

Of the three-year Phase I Study timeframe, McGinniss said, "I'm in limbo.  And I'm not the only one."

McGinniss said work issues will prevent her from serving on the advisory committee, though she has hopes that one or more of her neighbors will become PAG members. McGinniss does, however, plan to complete the project questionnaire and stay informed.  "I'll just have to keep on top of it," she said, adding, "I will definitely continue to give them my opinion."

Wayne Spath, also a Lake Bluff resident, has lived near the interchange for 16 years and, at the meeting, signed up to be a part of the advisory group.  "If you don't get involved, then you can't complain about the outcome," he stated. 

Spath called the formation of the advisory group "refreshing," and added "whether they listen or not is another story."

Another Lake Bluff resident, Sue Ulrey, came to the meeting to make sure the North Shore Bike Path was going to remain part of the reconstruction plans. Ulrey said she thought many residents would come to address the safety issues associated with the intersection, without as many local voices to support the bicycle trail. 

"I worried there might not be as many people to remind planners how important the North Shore Bike Path is, not only to local residents, but to the entire North Shore," Ulrey said, noting the path is the "main transportation artery for people who commute by bike."

To view the documents and exhibits from the meeting, visit the Village website.