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Construction project web site and statewide Twitter feeds now available

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is giving travelers two new online tools to stay informed about travel conditions around the state – a new construction project web site and a statewide 511 Twitter feed.

The new construction project web is part of the broader Wisconsin 511 web site. The site builds on study and construction project details that are also available on the WisDOT web site. Eventually, more and more construction project information will move to the Wisconsin 511 web site to provide a “one-stop-shop” for travelers and commuters to get detailed information about construction work zones that may have a significant impact on travel.

Visitors to the new 511 construction project web site can find real-time travel information, including closures and travel times, project news, schedules, updates and detailed maps. Additional resources such as project contacts, tools for impacted businesses and links to alternative transportation options are also available.

Statewide travel information is also now available via Twitter at Wisconsin511@511WI. The statewide 511 Twitter site is in addition to five regional 511 Twitter sites that provide tweets related to travel in the north central, northeast, northwest, southeast or southwest regions of the state. Twitter users can select which 511 Twitter site best meets their travel information needs. Regular tweets will keep travelers updated on construction activities, incidents, crashes and closures throughout the state.

Easy links to the various 511 Twitter sites, as well as to other department social media sites, are available from WisDOT’s Stay Connected web page.

"The addition of consolidated information into one statewide 511 Twitter feed will serve a growing customer base," said WisDOT Director of Traffic Operations John Corbin. "While new mobile and social media provides a way to engage the public in two-way conversations about traveler information, it should not occur while driving," he added. "The department encourages passengers to utilize these new tools or for drivers to check the sites before starting a trip or while safely stopped in designated rest areas."

For more information, contact:
Virginia Lingham, Traveler Information program manager
(414) 227-2172, virginia.lingham@dot.wi.gov

ROADS CLOSED

 District-4 

• IL-164   Closed just south of Henderson Cnty covered bridge, north of Gladstone due to high water. (Henderson Cnty).

 District-6

• Old US-36 at Decatur Rd just east of Riverton is closed due to a washed out culvert.

District - 8

• Water Street Closed at the truck bypass due to flooding.

District - 9

• the Illinois River, the Marseilles and Starved Rock Locks are closed due to high water. 
• On the Mississippi River, everything from Lock and Dam 16 through Lock and Dam 22 is closed.

Illinois Road Closures

MOTORIST ALERT - Due to HEAVY CONGESTION on FRIDAY and SUNDAY afternoons between Eau Claire and Osseo,  motorists are strongly encouraged to use alternate routes.  EB traffic should EXIT at US-53 (#70), WB Traffic should exit at WI-121 (#98) and  follow alternate route signs.

I-94 is an east-west principal arterial through Wisconsin that carries interstate traffic from the borders at Minnesota and Illinois. It serves as a significant connection between the Twin Cities in Minnesota to Chicago and plays a major role in the transportation of goods and services.

Work is underway to make improvements along the 117-mile corridor that include replacing and rehabilitating bridges, improving interchanges, and repairing and resurfacing deteriorating concrete.

We ask for your patience as we make improvements to this critical stretch of interstate in Wisconsin.

For more information regarding this, please check out the West Central Freeway Projects page.

Governor Pat Quinn announced that significant progress in preparing the Request for Proposals (RFP) for release has been made for approximately 35 high-performance diesel-electric locomotives for Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Iowa
in the Midwest, and for Washington and California on the West Coast. The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is leading the multi-state locomotive procurement, as work continues on an aggressive schedule aimed at issuing the RFP in July.

"I have directed IDOT to complete the procurement as expeditiously as possible," said Gov. Pat Quinn. "I am pleased to be moving closer to a target date and that the release date for the RFP for high-speed locomotives is anticipated to occur sometime in July.  We are thrilled to be leading this multi-state procurement and securing Illinois' role as a national
leader in high-speed rail."

"This is an exciting time for the state of Illinois. This locomotive procurement has the support and confidence of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Governor Quinn, and we couldn't be more proud to lead this crucial procurement effort," said Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider. "Our goal is to offer 110-mile-per-hour service on as much of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor as we can by late 2015 using existing locomotives.  Another portion will be ready for 110 in 2017, and these locomotives will play a key role in making that  happen.  That's why we are moving quickly to get this procurement under way as soon as possible."

Gov. Quinn in March announced FRA's recommendation  that Illinois lead the multi-state procurement of next-generation locomotives for high-speed rail.  With the consent of the partnering states, IDOT is leading the effort to procure approximately 35 next-generation diesel locomotives for high-speed passenger trains for the six-state coalition. The FRA  has allocated $808 million to manufacture the next generation of passenger rail equipment including approximately 35 new locomotives and 130 bi-level rail cars.  The locomotives are to meet standards developed by the Next Generation Equipment Committee, a team of government and rail industry experts.

IDOT was involved last year in a multi-state procurement of the 130 next-generation bi-level rail cars for high-speed service, an effort led by California.  That procurement resulted in the selection of Sumitomo/Nippon-Sharyo, which is building the rail cars from its plant in Rochelle, Illinois, including the 88 cars to be used on Midwest high-speed corridors.  The Rochelle plant opened in 2012 and has created more than 250 jobs in Illinois.

Illinois debuted 110-mph service on a 15-mile segment of the Chicago-St. Louis corridor from Dwight to Pontiac in November 2012, and IDOT is working with the private railroads and FRA to ensure that positive train control requirements and all needed track and crossing improvements are completed in order to expand 110-mph service as much as possible in the years ahead.  The FRA in December provided a Record of Decision on the entire Chicago-St. Louis corridor, allowing Illinois to begin in-depth corridor segment studies and specific project studies to move toward high-speed service on the other 25 percent of the corridor as soon as possible, including segments from  Joliet to Chicago and from Alton to St. Louis.  The segment from Dwight to Joliet is under development  and is expected to offer 110-mph service in 2017.

Illinois also is working in close partnership with the state of Michigan to establish 110-mph service from Chicago to Detroit as the next Midwest segment targeted to run at higher speeds.

In order to encourage the broadest response and the highest quality responses to the RFP, the following accelerated schedule is effective:

 *Dates are subject to change

 * Release of the RFP: Mid-July 2013

 * Proposals due date:  Early September, 2013

 * Contract award and Notice to Proceed (NTP): Early 2014

This procurement will use the locomotive specification of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) Section 305 Next Generation Equipment Committee.  Parties intending to participate should be aware that FRA Buy America requirements will apply to this procurement supporting a domestic manufacturing and supply industry in the rail sector.

FRA's High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail (HSIPR) program and its Buy America plan implement America's "Vision for High-Speed Rail in America", which  includes a goal to bolster American passenger rail expertise and resources.

Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider recently participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials regarding the impact of rail in Downstate Illinois.

The event featured discussion on public and private investment in rail and how it affects local communities. Participants also discussed ways to improve our railways and how to ensure Illinois remains a major transportation hub.

To view the event, click here: http://new.livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/2168844

At the last public meeting, IDOT and INDOT presented a draft B3 working alignment, local road connectivity, and draft interchange design concepts. Based on your feedback, and extensive stakeholder involvement, IDOT and INDOT will be presenting refinements to the preferred corridor, interchange types and locations, local road connectivity, overpass and underpass locations, environmental protection and opportunities.

The meetings will be an open house format, and interested persons may attend anytime between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. There will be a continuous PowerPoint presentation, and attendees will have the opportunity to provide comments, view exhibits and speak with IDOT, INDOT and study team representatives on a one-on-one basis. A question and answer forum will be held at 6:00 p.m. each day.

The Illiana Corridor will not only have a positive effect on freight and other interstate travel throughout the country, as this region is one of the busiest intermodal hubs, but it will also allow for improved accessibility on local and arterial roads, to improve economic opportunities.

The Public Meetings will be held:

INDIANA
Monday, June 17, 2013
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Lowell Middle School
19250 Cline Avenue
Lowell, IN 46356
   
ILLINOIS
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Peotone High School
605 West North Avenue
Peotone, IL 60468

* The meeting will be accessible to handicapped individuals. Anyone needing specific assistance should contact Sarah Copeland of Images, Inc. at (630) 510-3944. Persons planning to attend who will need a sign language interpreter or other similar accommodations should notify the TTY/TTD number (800) 526-0844/ or 711; TTY users (Spanish) (800) 501-0864/or 711; and for Telebraille dial (877) 526-6670 at least five days prior to the meeting.

Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police launch the summer-long child safety campaign helps parents, grandparents and caregivers create kids’ identification cards and install child safety seats.

In an effort to keep children safe, the Illinois Tollway and Illinois State Police District 15 are teaming up to host free Kids Identification and Safety Seat (K.I.S.S.) events throughout Northern Illinois. Ten events have been scheduled throughout the summer to provide free kids’ identification cards and inspect and install child safety seats.

To make it quick, convenient and fun for parents, grandparents and children alike, K.I.S.S. events will be held at Illinois Tollway facilities and several family-friendly locations, including children’s museums, local IKEA stores and several Jewel-Osco locations.

“The safety of our customers is the Illinois Tollway’s number one priority, and we’re doing everything we can to help them prepare for summer travel,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “Together with District 15, we are hosting K.I.S.S. events all summer long to help keep children safe and give parents peace of mind when they're on the road."

In 2012, the Tollway and District 15 successfully teamed up to host 16 K.I.S.S. events throughout the region, inspecting a total of nearly 350 child safety seats and issuing identification cards for nearly 400 kids. The overwhelmingly popular response prompted the Tollway and District 15 to include additional family-oriented venues to educate the public on important child safety issues.

2013 K.I.S.S. events will also offer parents and caregivers the opportunity to have identification cards created for children age 3 and older. Specially trained professionals will take kids’ photographs and fingerprints and gather vital information to include on three personal identification cards – one for home and two for a wallet or purse. This information will not be stored by police, but rather, used by parents and others in the event of an emergency.

More than 2,100 children – almost two children per minute – are reported missing every day in the United States. Law enforcement and others need proper identification that is immediately available before they can take action. Many lost children can be located if parents immediately provide police with an accurate description of the child.

K.I.S.S. events will also provide certified child passenger safety technicians to inspect and install child safety seats and help drivers stay up-to-date with the latest safety seat information and educational materials. Properly installed safety seats eliminate a potential distraction for drivers and significantly reduce the risk of injury or greater tragedy for children in the event of an accident. And yet, 80 percent of child safety seats in Illinois are improperly installed.

Nationally, car crashes are the number one killer of children ages 1 through 12, according to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Each day, an average of three children age 14 and younger are killed and another 469 are injured in motor vehicle crashes. In Illinois, 36 children age 14 and younger were killed in traffic accidents in 2011, the latest year for which statistics are available.

Research on the effectiveness of child safety seats has found them to reduce fatal injury by 71 percent for infants younger than 1 year old and by 54 percent for toddlers 1 to 4 years old in passenger cars, according to the NHTSA. Over the period 1975 through 2011, an estimated 9,874 lives were saved by child restraints for children under the age of 5 in passenger vehicles.

“Child safety seats are critical to saving lives and preventing injuries,” said District 15 Captain Joseph Perez. “But, it’s important that the child safety seat is installed properly to reduce the chances of a child being injured in a car accident.”

K.I.S.S. events also offer a convenient way for drivers to make sure they comply with Illinois law, which requires that whenever a person is transporting a child under age 8, the person is responsible for properly securing the child in an appropriate child restraint system.

K.I.S.S. Events

2013 K.I.S.S. events begin on Friday, June 14, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Jewel-Osco store at 12001 S. Pulaski Road in Alsip. The event will be held in the store’s parking lot and will include complimentary refreshments for children.

To participate, parents, grandparents and caregivers should bring child safety seats, children and the vehicle in which the child safety seats will be installed. Information on recalls and recall detection, correct positioning, correct sizing to protect the child most effectively, plus additional safety information and resources will be offered at these events.

K.I.S.S. events are scheduled at a variety of locations along the 286-mile Illinois Tollway system throughout Northern Illinois:

For more information about K.I.S.S. events, visit the Tollway’s website at www.illinoistollway.com.

Secretary Ann L. Schneider One of Select Group Chosen from Across the Country Including Shippers, Organized Labor, Haulers, Government and Other Stakeholders          

Governor Pat Quinn announced that U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has appointed Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider to the National Freight Advisory Committee.  

“I am very pleased that Illinois will be well represented on this important committee,” Governor Quinn said. “Secretary Schneider is representing Illinois and Midwest transportation interests as this influential panel designs a national freight policy that will serve and enhance the efficiency of regional and local highway, rail, airport, and inland waterway freight systems.” 

Secretary Schneider’s appointment by US DOT recognizes Illinois’ central and important role as a transportation hub for the successful movement of freight for industry, agriculture, manufacturing, labor and business communities. 

“I am honored to represent Illinois and to be a part of establishing freight policy for the nation,” Secretary Schneider said. “I will emphasize that we must view our national and regional modes of transportation as one transportation system, a system that must be viewed using a multi-modal, intermodal and sustainable lens in order to achieve more efficient, seamless, effective connections.”

The National Freight Advisory Committee will provide recommendations aimed at improving the national freight transportation system. A strong freight transportation system is critical to the nation’s economy and essential for helping meet President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015.

The recent transportation bill, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century, or MAP-21, signed by President Obama in July 2012, established a national freight policy and called for the creation of a National Freight Strategic Plan. The Advisory Committee will provide recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation on how DOT can improve its freight transportation policies and programs. They will engage stakeholders representing diverse geographic, modal, and policy interests, such as safety, labor and the environment, while developing these recommendations.

Illinois’ extensive system of highways, rail, air, and inland waterways provides a critical service for local, regional, national and international freight systems. The northeastern Illinois region, including Chicago, ranks first in the nation and third in the world as the busiest intermodal transportation hub, and ranks third in the nation in terms of freight tonnage and in trucking and rail volume. Illinois also ranks second in rail intermodal movement and is served by all seven major nationwide railroads, connecting a vital national freight network spanning coast to coast, and from Canada to Mexico. 

As head of the Illinois Department of Transportation, Secretary Schneider is responsible for all of the transportation systems in the state and appreciates the critical impact of freight movement on the economy of the state and the nation. Under her leadership, Illinois developed its first statewide Freight Mobility Plan as well as a State Rail Plan. These plans address not only highway and rail transport but also air and water transport. The plans represent a vision for transportation in Illinois that all modes be integrated, coordinated, planned, and built with the idea that present and future travel options are user focused, economically supportive, ecologically sensitive, and information centered. 

“I will encourage the Advisory Committee to identify the gaps in our freight delivery network so we can address those problems and provide greater efficiency with our transportation systems,” Schneider said. “With Illinois’ freight tonnage estimated to increase by a third by 2040, we must prepare a regional and national transportation system capable of meeting the future challenges and opportunities of a global economy.”

Secretary Schneider and IDOT's Bureau Chief of Bridges & Structures describe the bridge inspection process and the steps we take at the Illinois Department of Transportation to make sure bridges are safe for motorists.

Click the thumbnail image or the link below to view the video.

http://youtu.be/hUKbFeScP0M

Event will provide opportunities for local and national contractors to network with global investors.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) have announced plans for an international industry forum, entitled: Partnering for Progress: Financing through Public-Private Partnerships for the Illiana Corridor project in Will County, IL. and Lake County, Ind. The two-day event will be held on June 24 & 25, 2013, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

“This project represents a tremendous opportunity for Illinois and Indiana,” said Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “This forum is an important step toward getting a much-needed project off the ground quickly, putting people back to work and keeping the region economically competitive.”

“This forum is the best way for partners to bring their innovative ideas to the table to inform this project, to help shape it, and perhaps make it an example for future infrastructure projects,” said Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

Public Private Partnerships (P3) have been used for decades internationally, and have become a key project implementation strategy over the past 15 years in the United States. A P3 is an agreement between a public agency and a private entity to design, build, finance, operate and maintain a project. The private investor may consist of a team of engineering firms, construction companies and financiers. A typical P3 would involve the private party providing the financing, construction services, and potentially operations and maintenance services over an extended period. Tolling or combinations of fund sources would be used to reimburse the investor over an agreed upon period.

“Illinois and Indiana have been partners on the Illiana Corridor for more than two years and we’re thrilled to be able to showcase our project to an international audience of investors as well as local contractors and laborers,” said IDOT Secretary Ann Schneider. “We’re happy to join Indiana as one of the early adopters in P3 transportation projects.”

The industry forum is expected to attract up to 1,000 attendees, ranging from local laborers, contractors and DBEs to international investors and construction management companies.

Highlights of the conference include: a keynote address from Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and Indiana Governor Mike Pence, a 10,000-square-foot exhibit area for potential contractors, partners and investors, one-on-one meetings with project managers and an evening networking reception. For more information about the Forum and how to register, please visit  www.IllianaCorridor.org/P3.

ABOUT THE ILLIANA CORRIDOR: The Illiana Corridor is a proposed 47-mile access controlled highway facility that extends from I-55 in Illinois on the west to I-65 in Indiana on the east. The preferred corridor is located in Will County in Illinois and Lake County in Indiana. When built, the Illiana Corridor Project will reduce the strain of truck traffic on local roads, thereby improving safety, travel times, and accessibility to jobs. Potential economic benefits include the creation and retention of more than 9,000 construction jobs and more than 25,000 long-term jobs.

The Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann Schneider congratulated the "2013 Airport of the Year" award recipients.  Eight Illinois airports were recognized at the Illinois Aviation Conference, held in Moline earlier this week, for their accomplishments throughout the year, including an outstanding partnership with the state of Illinois and their commitment to customer satisfaction.

"We are very proud of the commitment made to ensure the comfort and safety of Illinois travelers," said Schneider.  "These airports set the bar for excellence and we are happy to partner with them to continue to advance aviation and further safe and efficient air travel throughout Illinois."

Each year, representatives of the Illinois Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Division of Aeronautics convene to determine which airports should receive special recognition as "Airport of the Year."  The criteria for the award selections are based on cooperation and coordination with the Division of Aeronautics by airport management and their staff, the facility safety record, promotion of seminars and aviation events and maintenance of the facility.

The Division recognizes airports in the following 7 categories: 

• Primary Airports
  • Airports with annual enplanements of 10,000 or more passengers.
• Reliever Airports
  • Airports primarily designed to serve General and Corporate Aviation in large metropolitan areas, such as Chicago and St. Louis.
• General Aviation Airports - Category A
  • Airports which accommodate aircraft needing more than 6,000 feet of runway length.      
• General Aviation Airports - Category B
  • Airports important to the aviation system serving aircraft requiring 6,000 or less feet of runway.
• Private - Open to the Public Airports
  • Airports that are privately owned and don't rely on federal or state funds to operate.  These airports have to meet the same safety requirements as publicly owned airports.
• Heliports (Two this year, a rooftop and a ground)
  • All categories including: Public and Private Use Heliports, Hospital Heliports, and RLA Heliports.
• Restaurant of the Year
  • The Division's "Five Prop Award" for fine dining on the airport.

This year's awards recipients are as follows:

• Chicago Rockford International Airport (Rockford, IL) - "Primary Airport of the Year"
• Chicago Executive Airport (Wheeling & Prospect Heights, IL) - "Reliever of the Year"
• DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DeKalb, IL) - "General Aviation - Category 'A' Airport of the Year"
• Illinois Valley Regional Airport (Peru, IL) - "General Aviation - Category 'B' Airport of the Year"
• Percival Springs (Watson, IL) - "Private - Open to the Public Airport of the Year"
• St. Mary's Good Samaritan Regional Health Center (Mt. Vernon, IL) - "Heliport of the Year - Ground Facility"
• St. John's Hospital (Springfield, IL) - "Heliport of the Year - Rooftop Facility"
• The Flight Deck Bar and Grill (located at the Rochelle Municipal Airport) - "Five Prop -  On-Airport Restaurant of the Year"

The Illinois State Aviation System is one of the largest in the nation - it's comprised of over 870 individual landing facilities.  Illinois is home to everything from O'Hare International Airport, to Municipal General Aviation Airports, to private grass strips in farmers' backyards.  IDOT's Division of Aeronautics assists with the creation, improvement and continued operations of both private and public airports through financial assistance (public airports), inspection and technical oversight.  The Division also provides aviation safety and education programs to pilots, aircraft owners, mechanics and industry professionals.  According to a 2012 Statewide Aviation Economic Impact Study, aviation contributes nearly $41 billion annually to the Illinois economy.

For more information about IDOT's Division of Aeronautics, please go to http://www.dot.state.il.us/aero/index.html.

RED LINE  --  

Red Line South Reconstruction Project: Until October 2013, the Dan Ryan branch of the Red Line will temporarily closed for five months while we rebuild the tracks from Cermak-Chinatown to 95th/Dan Ryan--a project will provide faster commutes, a smoother ride, improved stations and accessibility and a better passenger experience. Our goal is to provide a number of convenient travel options, and to minimize the project’s impact as much as possible.

For more information and service alternatives, visit redlinesouth.com.

Service Changes Between Roosevelt and 95th

How does this affect my trip?
Trains will operate between Howard and Ashland/63rd via the South Side elevated and Ashland branch (normally used by Green Line trains). Red Line service between Howard and Ashland/63rd will continue to use the Red Line Subway and to operate 24-hours, daily.

Free shuttle bus service will be provided, non-stop between the Garfield elevated station and the closed stations at 69th (#R69), 79th (#R79), 87th (#R87), and 95th (#R95). Overnight, the #R55 free shuttle will provide service between Garfield and 95th, making stops at the closed stations from 63rd to 95th.

In addition, the #R63 free shuttle will provide station-to-station stops between the closed stations from 63rd to 95th. The #R22 free shuttle will provide non-stop service between the Roosevelt station and the closed Cermak-Chinatown station.

Allow extra travel time.

For more information and service alternatives, visit redlinesouth.com.

Why is service being changed?
The Dan Ryan branch of the Red Line will be temporarily closed for rebuilding between Cermak and 95th for the Red Line South Reconstruction Project.

Fast Facts:
- May is National Bike Month; May 13-17 is Bike to Work Week.
- There were 1,970 reported crashes involving bicyclists in Michigan in 2012, resulting in 1,598 injuries and 20 fatalities.
- Fatal crashes involving bicyclists remains disproportionately high compared to other crash types.

May is National Bike Month, and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) reminds motorists to be aware of bicyclists on Michigan roads. In 2012, there were 1,970 reported crashes involving bicyclists in Michigan resulting in 1,598 injuries and 20 fatalities. MDOT says that while the number of fatalities is down 17 percent (there were 24 fatalities in 2011), fatal crashes involving bicyclists remains disproportionately high compared to other roadway users or crash types.

"While this data suggests some improvement, drivers must remain focused at all times when they get behind the wheel and share the road," said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "These crashes are avoidable. Drivers should always be alert and pass slower moving traffic, including bicyclists, from a safe distance."

In addition to May being National Bike Month, Bike to Work Week is May 13-17, with Friday, May 17, designated as Bike to Work Day.

"We join other transportation agencies to raise awareness and promote our safety message: 'Give 'em Space, Make it Safe, Please Share the Road,'" said Steudle.

Motorists are cautioned to pay close attention when driving near bicyclists and pedestrians as the warmer spring months lure people outdoors. Michigan has a growing number of bike lanes and thousands of miles of shared-use pathways that bicyclists can use and enjoy.

For maps and other important information, including "What Every Michigan Driver Should Know About Bike Lanes," check out www.michigan.gov/mdot-biking.

The Illinois Department of Transportation joined the Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Illinois State Police, and other agencies at the 5th Annual Williamson County Traffic Safety Days.

This event is designed to supplement and reinforce classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction for driver's education students. This event uses presentations and active participation to deliver important safe-driving information to the students.
 
Click the thumbnail image or the link below to view the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb_p8zZRBHE

Work is part of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project

Westbound traffic on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) between Irene Road near Belvidere and I-39 will be reduced to one lane this week and an alternate route posted to offer drivers the option to travel west via U.S. Route 20 to reach I-90 and I-39. Two lanes will remain available for eastbound traffic.
The Illinois Tollway is rebuilding and widening the Kishwaukee River Bridge as part of the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project. Because the existing Kishwaukee River Bridge is not wide enough to maintain four lanes of traffic and provide a work zone during construction, two eastbound lanes and one westbound lane will be available for I-90 traffic in 2013.

“We know that this construction is not without inconvenience and are offering another route for our customers to take when westbound traffic is heavy,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “When we’re done, drivers will have a new, wider roadway that will improve travel between Rockford and Chicago.”
Beginning on Thursday, April 4, the westbound lanes will be reduced to one lane and the alternate route will be posted as an option directing westbound traffic to exit at Irene Road and travel west on U.S. Route 20 to reach I-90 and I-39. The alternate route will remain in place through the end of this year. However, roadway work on I-90 between Rockford and Elgin will continue and is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2014.

Construction zone speed limits are in effect in all construction zones 24/7 and drivers should continue to watch for changing traffic patterns and use caution, especially when workers are present. A 45 mph speed limit will be in place.
Rebuilding and widening bridges and roadway on the 54-year-old Jane Addams Memorial Tollway is part of the 15-year, $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. When the $2.2 billion project is complete, I-90 will be a 21st century, state-of-the-art corridor linking Rockford to O'Hare Airport with eight lanes from the Kennedy Expressway to Randall Road and six lanes from Randall Road to I-39.
For more detailed information about Illinois Tollway construction projects, please visit “Projects By Roadway” in the Construction/Planning section on the Tollway’s website www.illinoistollway.com.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has closed the IN-152 bridge (Nine Span bridge) over the IHB rail yard. The old structure will be demolished and a replacement will be built. The new bridge is expected to open by the end of 2013.

A detour will take NB traffic south on IN-152 (Indianapolis Blvd.), east on I-80/94, north on IN-912 (Cline Ave.), and west on US-20 (Michigan St.). SB traffic will travel east on US-20 (Michigan St.), south on IN-912 (Cline Ave.), west on I-80/94, and north on IN-152 (Indianapolis Blvd.).

For updates on the Nine Span bridge project, in addition to winter weather updates and news from INDOT in Northwest Indiana, like us at Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest and follow us at Twitter.com/INDOTNorthwest.

You can find traffic restriction information at www.trafficwise.IN.gov.  Contact the LaPorte District toll free at 1-855-GO-INDOT

The (IL-106/100) Florence Bridge over the Illinois River at the Scott/Pike County line will be closed until further notice due to safety issues. Traffic is being redirected to the I-72 bridge.

Travelmidwest.com has always displayed information on arterial road construction and traffic incidents.  With the addition of information from the City of Chicago and Lake County, Illinois, the Gateway Traveler Information System and travelmidwest.com website now contain congestion information on arterial streets to supplement the incident and construction data.

 Road congestion for the City of Chicago uses data from its Traffic Tracker application.  The Traffic Tracker uses GPS-equipped CTA buses to determine congestion on the route.  The speed of the buses is taken as a reasonable indication of the overall flow of traffic on these routes.

Congestion data on arterial roads in Lake County, Illinois, is supplied by the Lake County Passage system.  A mix of traffic probe types provides the raw data for the algorithms used to compute the relative congestion.

The congestion levels are determined by traffic speeds.  Since the speed limit on arterial streets is lower than those on expressways, the congestion levels are adjusted accordingly.  As an example, a speed which would signify heavy congestion on an expressway represents close to free flowing conditions on an arterial road.

Arterial information may be added to the map or removed from the map by toggling the map controls.  This allows website users to customize the map features based on their specific traveler information needs.

On November 4th, 2010, the Travel Midwest Truckers Report won the ITS Midwest Project of the Year award.  While commercial vehicles provide a significant portion of the traffic on both interstates and arterials in the Travel Midwest area, there was no single location where the unique data needs of the trucking community were addressed. As a result, it was determined that the revised Travelmidwest.com web site should have a section addressing the unique commercial carrier needs. This section is titled the Travel Midwest Truckers Report.

Gateway Traveler Information System Honored as ITS-Midwest 2009 Project of the Year At its 2009 Annual Meeting held in Indianapolis, Indiana; the Intelligent Transportation Society-Midwest Chapter composed of the state societies in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio honored the Gateway Traveler Information System website and related operations as ITS-Midwest Project of the Year.

As regular visitors to the site can attest, the scope of available information has been dramatically increased as the Gateway expanded staff for 24/7/365 coverage. Besides the addition of Michigan to the coverage area, the Gateway now boasts information from the Mississippi River to the Ohio border in the four state (Illinois-Indiana-Michigan-Wisconsin) coverage area.

The roadwork and incident information are augmented by impacts from special events such as parades, marathons, and other celebrations. The data on area Interstates and limited access highways is supplemented by arterial information. Though congestion and travel times are not available for these arterials, construction and incidents resulting in blockage are displayed to give drivers in the area the most comprehensive picture of traffic conditions and thereby aid them in making truly informed travel choices.

In an effort to improve services that we provide to our valued customers and users, the Gateway Traveler Information System has implemented a user survey. The survey asks about your preferences in using the TravelMidwest web site and the Illinois Traffic Alert System and seeks input from you on which new features that you would like to see on the site. The survey is completely anonymous and takes less than two minutes to complete. The results will help us to focus our ongoing efforts on the features that our users find most useful. Please take a moment to fill out our User Survey and help us to provide better service. In addition, feel free to send any other comments you have about the site to Webmaster.

Through an initiative created by IDOT, seven public transportation agencies have launched a public education campaign called Drive Less, Live More. Partners include the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA), Metra and Pace. This campaign is designed to provide drivers with easy access to information that provides alternatives to driving. A key part of the campaign is the www.drivelesslivemore.com web site which was funded under a CMAQ grant from the FHWA. The web site features a trip planner, transit system maps and schedules, travel advisories and a commute-cost calculator.

In addition to the website, the campaign will also feature billboards, radio advertising and promotions to promote driving alternatives such as public transit, vanpools, biking and rollerblading.  

Keep Us Alive Drive 45 is our commitment to keep workers and motorists safe in work zones. Each year, many people are killed in construction zone accidents, both commuters and workers. Please abide the posted speed limit in work zones. When workers are present, it's 45 M.P.H. - It's The Law.

Join us in our pledge to increase awareness and promote safe driving in our work zones by displaying an orange ribbon. Together we can make our roadways a safer place to commute and work. With your help, we can see to it that a construction zone is not an end zone.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and its partner, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), have developed the Illinois Traffic Alert System. You may register to receive customized traffic reports containing vehicle speeds, travel times, construction, congestion and incident information through your e-mail inbox, cell phone text messaging or other e-mail enabled mobile device. The system is initially being deployed in the Chicagoland area as part of IDOT's congestion mitigation effort. When you register, follow the instructions in order to:

1. Choose the roadway segments about which you want to be notified
2. Select the two times of day when you want to receive alerts
3. Select the days of the week you want to receive alerts
4. Customize alerts so you will receive them only if the average speed on the road is below what you select
5. Customize the type of data you want to receive: incidents, construction, congestion and/or travel times