Research Project
North East Lake County Transportation Organization
The city of Waukegan requested the UTC to assist it examine and review current as well as future transportation needs, including enhanced Metra reverse commute service to the County. At the same time the city of Waukegan became aware that the City of North Chicago, as well as area employers, had similar needs and concerns. The goal of the group is to identify common transportation needs among the members, create a strategy to address the needs, lack of direct transit service to area employers as well as overcome existing mobility barriers and develop an organizational structure consisting of stakeholders that will best achieve the goal.
- Principal Investigator
- DiJohn, Joseph
- Research Area(s)
- Policy Analysis
- Funding Source
- Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative (METSI), Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS)
Abstract
The plan is to form a transportation organization that could best serve interests of its members, specifically in the area of employee transportation. Once the group is formed, its initial task will be to identify and examine common transportation needs and existing barriers. For example, having an earlier Metra train arrive in North Chicago and Waukegan to meet the 7:00 am start time at some area companies is warranted. In addition, the city of Waukegan expressed a desire to have an earlier express train to Chicago. The opportunity to implement and utilize feeder buses, vanpools and carpools to assist employees in commuting to/from the area was also identified, particularly with upcoming road construction on the I-94 tollway and IL Route 41 that will cause congestion and require mitigation. A report or paper from this research is not immediately available.