Open houses begin on long-range Cook County transportation plan

Residents are invited to offer input on Cook County’s first long-range transportation plan in 70 years at a series of open houses that begin Tuesday.

After nine months of work, the county is seeking residential and business input on transportation priorities and potential long-range scenarios.

“Cook County wants to produce a plan that links transportation to jobs and economic development, supports more livable and sustainable communities, and addresses infrastructure needs 25 years in the future,” a flier outlining the open house schedule said.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the planning process in February. The last such plan identified the corridors for today’s Chicago-area expressway system.

But cars have not been the top priority of survey respondents so far. About 1,600 survey respondents have indicated they want to move beyond planning primarily for automobiles and to instead explore opportunities to reduce congestion and enhance public transportation and bicycling, according to the project’s website, connectingcookcounty.org.

No formal presentation will be made during the open houses but visitors will be encouraged to review different scenarios on transportation priorities, ask questions and provide comments.

If they cannot attend an open house, residents can still fill out an online survey about the scenarios at http://www.connectingcookcounty.org/involved-metroquest.html

Open houses will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.:

Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Franklin Park Police Station Community Room, 9451 W. Belmont, Franklin Park.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the Northbrook Village Hall Board Room, 1225 Cedar Lane, Northbrook.

Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Chaddick Institute of DePaul University, 14 E Jackson, Chicago, in the 16th floor Dublin Room.

Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park.