Welcome to Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop

1. Welcome to Context Sensitive Solutions Workshop Overview by Mary Kaufman �MUPP at UIC Consultants and CSS by Doug Knuth-principal of Edward and Kelcey Legislation of CSS Policy by Illinois State Representative Kathy Ryg Implementation of CSS Policy in IDOT by Mike Moss, former policy advisor to the secretary and currently Finance Administrator for the Illinois Dept. of Healthcare. Balancing transportation, development and ecology by Ray Ribich- Arborist Open Floor discussion

3. A Road Ran Through It

4. Old Route 53 Continued

5. The beginning of the problem.Sometimes people remember The I- 355 Project was the bypass for old IL-Route 53. �We won�t be back for 20 years!!� Unwittingly IDOT created the beginning of the problem 10 years prior. It�s important what you tell people in their own back yards. Don�t assume that people forget or that the neighborhoods turn over sufficiently. In this case, enough of the residents that lived there remembered this promise after the painful process of putting in a new Expressway corridor which Lombard had fought and lost before.It�s important what you tell people in their own back yards. Don�t assume that people forget or that the neighborhoods turn over sufficiently. In this case, enough of the residents that lived there remembered this promise after the painful process of putting in a new Expressway corridor which Lombard had fought and lost before.

6. The Rising tide of AwarenessFormation of NIFTI The first meeting Informal meeting consisting of 20 or so neighbors along the 53 corridor. Spread through word of mouth and flyers. This is grass roots coalition formation. This is not CSS.This is grass roots coalition formation. This is not CSS.

7. Letter of Intent The members of NIFTI Steering Committee request the opportunity to meet with IDOT District 1 Chief engineer and appropriate staff to present the full NIFTI Vision of the Lombard-Glen Ellyn Corridor. Second, we request that the project manager, engineers, and sub-contractors working on the Phase I engineering study for this section of Route 53 examine the NIFTI research in depth, and work substantively with the steering committee to achieve a win-win solution. Third, either before or during IDOT�s public comment period, we wish to show the full support NIFTI has, and gain IDOT�s acceptance of NIFTI�s three-lane alternative. Excerpt of part of an executive summary sent 6 months prior. This is not CSS either. Excerpt of part of an executive summary sent 6 months prior. This is not CSS either.

8. The Formation of NIFTI Gaining consensus and political support 3000 Homeowners in 14 homeowner�s associations and independent subdivisons Four School Board: Districts 41, 44, 87, and 89 Two private Schools Three park Districts: Glen Ellyn, Lombard, and Butterfield The village of Glen Ellyn Village of Lombard The conservation Foundation The Environmental Law and Policy Center The Glen Ellyn League of Woman Voters Milton township Highway Department St. Thomas United Methodist church Health Track Two Retirement Homjes Illinois State Representative Vince Pesico Illinois State Senator Peter Roskam Illinois State Senator Dan Cronin United States Congresswoman Judy Biggert DuPage County Board district 4 Members United States congressman Henry Hyde Seven Milton Township Republican Committeemen Precincts The political support components to grass roots advocacy. This is not CSS, this is lobbying.The political support components to grass roots advocacy. This is not CSS, this is lobbying.

9. The June 2001 Meeting To be fair to all concerned. IDOT did provide the first two items of request. But they had no mechanism to even begin to look collaboratively at any other alternatives at this stage. In fact NIFTI had been fairly insulting to their professional efforts. NIFTI though hopeful, was determined and also angry by the end of the meeting. Any idea of collaboration (though there wasn�t much room for actual collaboration) went out the window right after. NIFTI declared war. This isn�t CSS either.To be fair to all concerned. IDOT did provide the first two items of request. But they had no mechanism to even begin to look collaboratively at any other alternatives at this stage. In fact NIFTI had been fairly insulting to their professional efforts. NIFTI though hopeful, was determined and also angry by the end of the meeting. Any idea of collaboration (though there wasn�t much room for actual collaboration) went out the window right after. NIFTI declared war. This isn�t CSS either.

10. League of Women Voters Meeting Mission statement Neighbors Influencing Fifty-Three Improvement (NIFTI) seeks to achieve an improvement of Illinois route 53 that promotes: safety for children, a superior quality of life, protection for the environment and a more reasonable alternative for motorists, by replacing Illinois Department of Transportation�s current five-lane plan with a community friendly three-lane proposal. I was not at this meeting. Doug Knuth, however, was and I�ll let him describe it because only he does it Justice. This was another skirmish basically between IDOT and NIFTI.I was not at this meeting. Doug Knuth, however, was and I�ll let him describe it because only he does it Justice. This was another skirmish basically between IDOT and NIFTI.

11. Lines in the pavement 3 Not 5: Buzz word picked up by the press Rally 1100 letters to John Kos, then head of district one and other politicians who had not supported NIFTI�s vision. In other words, all two of them. Protests at IDOT headquarters in Schaumburg Press was giving full coverage. This is what can happen. Instead of quietly going about a lawsuit, NIFTI decided to take it to the public. And the public jumped on board.This is what can happen. Instead of quietly going about a lawsuit, NIFTI decided to take it to the public. And the public jumped on board.

12. Divide and conquer? 5 steering committee members went for a Political solution: Only way to win 1 went for a technical approach 1 decided to support both positions. This began to split the committee�s efforts. I was the technical approach. I was convinced that 1. We didn�t understand the Dot�s language very well in order to have meaningful dialogue. 2. We needed a second objective opinion. I went out of state to look. In the end, my efforts were looked on with suspicion by most of the other committee members. I resigned from NIFTI to pursue what I believed was the only way to open communication, be able to speak the language of the DOT. Know what they knew. Understand the problem and the purpose and need from their view. And look for literature and research that could begin to talk to them on their technical field so as to communicate our needs as a community better.This began to split the committee�s efforts. I was the technical approach. I was convinced that 1. We didn�t understand the Dot�s language very well in order to have meaningful dialogue. 2. We needed a second objective opinion. I went out of state to look. In the end, my efforts were looked on with suspicion by most of the other committee members. I resigned from NIFTI to pursue what I believed was the only way to open communication, be able to speak the language of the DOT. Know what they knew. Understand the problem and the purpose and need from their view. And look for literature and research that could begin to talk to them on their technical field so as to communicate our needs as a community better.

13. Political Solution Senator Roskam�s press conference October 3, 2001 Mixed feelings Cancelled any improvement for a 2.6 mile stretch and furthered IDOT�s 5-lane plan for north of Roosevelt and south of Butterfield.Cancelled any improvement for a 2.6 mile stretch and furthered IDOT�s 5-lane plan for north of Roosevelt and south of Butterfield.

14. Technical Solutions Findings CSS and High Volume 3-lane roads IDOT�s consultants came up with their own alternatives based on their further studies. So we have three different angles that came up with the same thing as far as laying a 5-lane. But depending on which one of these avenues one chose would have vastly different consequences of no build or not. Was it a win?So we have three different angles that came up with the same thing as far as laying a 5-lane. But depending on which one of these avenues one chose would have vastly different consequences of no build or not. Was it a win?

15. Lessons Learned? Win-Win? Win-Lose? Lose-Lose? Think about that for the discussion later.

16. A better way? Context Sensitive Solutions Examines the purpose and need and balances those with the different interests and competing concerns of the stakeholders as well as taking into account the environmental sensitivies of the area from the very beginning of the project!! CSS is usually DOT or Principal agency led. CSS has a collaborative team from the start that includes stakeholders. CSS does not mean that the public builds the project. But it doesn�t mean that the DOT can build it without meaningful public input either. CSS can identify conflicting concerns early and work in a collaborative transparent process so that even if not everyone agrees, everyone should be able to say �I understand.� And the reasons for project design decisions should be rational, based on the goals and visions, and tend not to be largely political.CSS is usually DOT or Principal agency led. CSS has a collaborative team from the start that includes stakeholders. CSS does not mean that the public builds the project. But it doesn�t mean that the DOT can build it without meaningful public input either. CSS can identify conflicting concerns early and work in a collaborative transparent process so that even if not everyone agrees, everyone should be able to say �I understand.� And the reasons for project design decisions should be rational, based on the goals and visions, and tend not to be largely political.

17. Changes Finally, Joe Clark of NIFTI approached Senator Cronin in November 2001. Together they began the beginning language of what would be later known as the CSD Bill. The language was shaky and unclear at first and needed a lot of work. It stalled in committee and at that point, I lost sight of it. Finally, Joe Clark of NIFTI approached Senator Cronin in November 2001. Together they began the beginning language of what would be later known as the CSD Bill. The language was shaky and unclear at first and needed a lot of work. It stalled in committee and at that point, I lost sight of it.

18. New Policy New Roads Taken IDOT, Senator Cronin and NIFTI New Collaboration Engineers and Soccer Moms New 53 Neighbors United The public hearing for North Avenue to Roosevelt Road. We still had north of Roosevelt on the table. NIFTI continued to put pressure on IDOT through Senator Cronin and finally the Secretary of Transportation Kirk Brown became involved in the negotiations. An agreement was struck that took the funding for the section south of St. Charles to Roosevelt off of the five year funding plan. But I couldn�t forget all that had happened. I also couldn�t forget the people in Lombard I had promised to help. I began emailing the project coordinator, Jarrod Cebulski.We still had north of Roosevelt on the table. NIFTI continued to put pressure on IDOT through Senator Cronin and finally the Secretary of Transportation Kirk Brown became involved in the negotiations. An agreement was struck that took the funding for the section south of St. Charles to Roosevelt off of the five year funding plan. But I couldn�t forget all that had happened. I also couldn�t forget the people in Lombard I had promised to help. I began emailing the project coordinator, Jarrod Cebulski.

19. 53 Neighbors United Mission statement We are a group of residents living along 53 dedicated to promoting CSS for Route 53 and the development of a Context-Sensitive Highway

20. Future 53 Neighbors United �Inc� Executive Board of stakeholders and professionals 5 Committees Safe Routes to Schools and Programs Community Concerns Watershed Watch Finance and policy Research and Design Formed because of concerns with the longevity of the project. We are the holder of the community memory and the promises made. Other transportation issues will arise for this area as well and we are another avenue for dialogue and resources for those people who are unincorporated. We will remain to serve the public and foster dialogue for as long as the public has need of us. We will do everything in the best of CSS principles. Formed because of concerns with the longevity of the project. We are the holder of the community memory and the promises made. Other transportation issues will arise for this area as well and we are another avenue for dialogue and resources for those people who are unincorporated. We will remain to serve the public and foster dialogue for as long as the public has need of us. We will do everything in the best of CSS principles.

21. Best of CSS Principles Open honest communication Anytime anywhere with anyone Promote transparent design decisions It�s about the project, not personalities. Settle for nothing less than Design Excellence.

22. Stakeholder responsibilities Stakeholders need to put in the time to develop a clear vision for their communities that can be communicated early to elected officials and agencies. Stakeholders need to come prepared to learn as well as inform. Stakeholders need to keep . themselves informed and part of the dialogue

23. Public Partners Public needs to be Communicative Collaborative Educated and Invested