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Business & Tech

A Step in the Right Direction

The city of Des Plaines is transforming travel for its residents in order to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Green means go! Literally. And thanks to grant money from the government, the city of Des Plaines is working on becoming a more walkable, and bike-able place to live. 

Des Plaines is one of 25 cities that received a $90,000 grant from public health departments and Centers for Disease Control to begin improving and transforming travel options for its residents. The non-profit group Active Transportation Alliance, works with residents in Des Plaines and cities worldwide to create a catered, comprehensive walking, biking and transit plan to the community.

“It’s about prioritizing what is important to the residents,” said Dan Persky, director of education and advocacy with Active Transportation Alliance. 

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A recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Centers for Disease Control discovered a link between transportation and health. According to the study, in 1969, 50 percent of students walked or biked to school. More recently, half of students are driven to school or take the bus, which the study finds leads to greater numbers of obesity.

The program focuses on using existing infrastructure to create a plan that implements healthier, safer and more convenient lifestyles. With the help of Active Transportation Alliance and more importantly, hands on participation from the community, residents will begin to see improvements on their streets, sidewalks and trails.

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“We’re improving on an already good system,” said Persky.

 At an interactive meeting, residents and biking enthusiasts participated in electronic polls and mapping exercises to help create a complete plan for making the city of Des Plaines a more “walkable” and “bike-able” place. A majority of the participants reported walking or biking in the city daily and agreed the traveling conditions need improvement. A number of participants mentioned deliberately avoiding Des Plaines when traveling on bike or foot because of traffic concerns and a lack of space.

“I don’t want to be dodging children on the sidewalk,” said Dr. Madeline McKernan, Oakton Community College teacher and bicyclist. McKernan said her top priority is getting a separate bike path lane put on the streets.

Using different colored markers, participants were asked to prioritize important locations on a large map of Des Plaines. From there, they highlighted and circled the numerous hazards and barriers, which made traveling to their favorite locations difficult. Shafay Choudry, community planner for Active Transportation Alliance, says these locations will become the central focus of the comprehensive, “complete street plan.”

“This is how you do it,” said Mayor Martin Moylan. “You get important feedback."

 Some common areas of interest include elementary schools, Oakton Community College, YMCA, the library, El stops, and parks. Problem areas at the top of the list were Northwest Highway, River Road, overpasses, railroad tracks and lack of sidewalks.  

“We are trying to create a plan reflective of what the public tells us they need,” said Choudry.

Active Transportation Alliance will compile the participants’ information with their own fieldwork and online data surveys to develop a comprehensive plan the public can benefit from. The plan will include a variety of improvements including transit shelters at bus stops, complete sidewalks, separate bike lanes, close-by cross walks, route information and proper street and sidewalk lighting.

Participants were also asked to fill out their own “wish list” in regards to the type of improvements they’d like to see in Des Plaines.

Community input is the “driving force” behind this project, said Choudry.

According to Persky, the preliminary plan will be presented to city officials and stakeholders by the end of May. Persky says residents can expect to see improvements by Fall 2011.

Active Transportation Alliance encourages residents of Des Plaines to stay involved in the project by going to their website at www.activetrans.org.

 

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