The City Council generally approved Tuesday all of the Public Works Department’s recommended changes to Washington Street, including a proposal to add parking on both sides of the street through the Warehouse District.
But whether most of these changes are ultimately approved depends on how they are viewed by the Illinois Department of Transportation, which will consult with the city in the coming weeks about them.
“We have a lot of talking to do (with IDOT),” Public Works Director David Barber said. “It is their street. It is under their control.
Barber said he will discuss with IDOT the council’s wishes to transform Washington Street/U.S. Route 24 into a more pedestrian-friendly road that was described in the city’s Heart of Peoria Plan several years ago. He said if the changes are not endorsed by IDOT, it could lead to a potential relocation of the state-maintained route from Washington Street.
“I hope we don’t have to go that far,” Barber said.
The $41.6 million project, if all goes according to plan, could be under construction by 2013, Barber said.
Council members expressed a need to move quickly on some portions of a project that divides the 3 1/2-mile stretch of Washington Street from Interstate 74 to Interstate 474 into four districts: the Business District (I-74 to the Bob Michel Bridge), Warehouse District (Bob Michel Bridge to MacArthur Boulevard), Commerce District (MacArthur to the Adams/Washington streets split), and the Gateway District (the split to I-474).
At-large City Councilman Ryan Spain said a concern for him is the length a Phase 1 study of the entire stretch of Washington will take. According to Barber, the Phase 1 work – which compiles a detailed analyses of engineering work and infrastructure along the road – could take 18 months or longer, and that process might not begin until April or May.
“Given some of the current (development) opportunities before the city, I’m curious if there is a way we don’t have to do a Phase 1 for everything,” Spain said.
Barber said he will discuss with IDOT officials the request to move forward on certain sections of the project over others, although he felt the state might want the entire road analyzed at once.
Barber said the state will be asked to help support the Phase 1 study of the road, which is estimated to cost $2 million to $2.5 million.
As far as the council’s recommendations for the road, they included:
– Changing the Gateway District from seven to four lanes, with a flushed median in the middle.
Council members expressed an interest in removing the raised median.
At-large City Councilman George Jacob also asked for the city to look at ways to make this stretch of the road in South Peoria near the future Harrison School a more “green” development.
– Reducing the Commerce District to three lanes with a flushed median. Also, 1st District City Councilman Clyde Gulley asked if the city could continue looking for ways to limit truck traffic off Washington Street near the Archer Daniels Midland plant.
– Adding parking on both sides of Washington through the Warehouse District. Previous plans, endorsed by IDOT, show the street should include on-street parking on the east side of the street only.
“I think it’s really a great proposal and far superior to the IDOT approved plan,” Spain said.
– Adding a raised median within the Business District near the museum block, while reducing the road to three lanes.
John Sharp can be reached at 686-3282 or [email protected].
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