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Lake County News
From
Craig Taylor | |
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Craig Taylor Representative District 19 |
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I'm extremely pleased to report work is underway to interconnect the traffic lights on Rt.12 from Rt.53 all the way to Miller Road in Lake Zurich. This is something we've all wanted to see accomplished for many years and it's finally going to happen! I've included some details below and you can learn more by watching the video of our Lake County Board Meeting from Tuesday, February 9th. Go to www.lakecountyil.gov , on the left side of the page under the heading "Watch", click on "Board Meetings", click on "Video" for the 02/09 meeting, scroll down to agenda item 56. under the video screen and click on it.
Also included below is information about the pending purchase of a new headquarters building for the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Word got around that many existing buildings on Forest Preserve property would be destroyed as a result - - the number I heard was 400.. Rest assured that is not the case! For more on that I encourage you to view our Lake County Forest Preserve Board Meeting also held on Tuesday, February 9th. Go to www.lcfpd.orgclick on "About Us" on the header, click on "Board & Committee", then click on 09FEB10 "Video". Under the viewing screen, click on item 9.2 (Item 9.1 is also very interesting).
Both videos that I've noted here shouldn't take much more than 15 minutes of your time so again, I encourage you to take a look.
Feel free to forward this e-newsletter. If you have any comments or suggestions, please call or email me.
My contact information if you need to reach me by phone is 847-438-2961 or email:
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Interconnecting More Traffice Lights |
Intelligent Transportation is coming to Lake Zurich, Kildeer and Deer Park. Work is in the final stages to bring Lake County's Intelligent Transportation System known as Lake County PASSAGE to this area. PASSAGE provides motorists with real-time traffic congestion information including reporting on delays caused by crashes and construction activities. Information is collected and communicated from the Traffic Management Center in Libertyville to hig hway users on the website www.lakecountypassage.com and by PASSAGE Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) 1620 AM. Operators at the Traffic Management Center also have the ability to view actual traffic conditions using pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras located at key intersections and to make remote adjustments to traffic signal timings to match actual traffic conditions.
Specific improvements that are coming to this area in the next several months include interconnecting and bringing on-line the traffic signals along US Route 12 from IL Route 53 to Miller Road and along IL Route 22 from Quentin Road to west of US Route 12. PTZ cameras are also being added along US Route 12 at Miller Road, IL Route 22, Ela Road, Cuba Road and along Quentin Road at US Route 12, IL Route 22, East Cuba Road and West Cuba Road. In addition to the cameras being a useful tool for the TMC Operators to remotely monitor traffic conditions, camera images will be made available to the public on the PASSAGE website as a way for motorists to evaluate travel conditions pre-trip and make informed route decisions. A new Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) tower will also become active at US Route 12 and Ela Road to improve the radio reception in our area of 1620 AM.
Lake County is currently in the second phase of PASSAGE construction which will
result in 340 or about 50% of the traffic signals in Lake County being on the system. Future plans call for over 700 traffic signals located throughout Lake County to eventually be brought onto the PASSAGE network. |
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Lake County Board Meeting |
| Watch the discussion on a Joint resolution appropriating $3,750,000 of ¼% Sales Tax for Transportation and Public Safety funds for the construction of a three lane roadway, a bike path and railroad improvements as part of the Midlothian Road Extension (from the existing county fair entrance northerly to Moorehead Circle) and designated as section 09-00244-03-FP.
Click on the link below and on the left scroll down to item number 56.
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Fairfield Road and IL Route 176 Junction Improvement Open House |
February 25
6 to 8 p.m.
Wauconda Community High School
555 N. Main St., Wauconda
Lake County Division of Transportation will host an Open House Public Information Meeting concerning the Fairfield Road/IL Route 176 Junction Improvement. The purpose of the meeting is to present proposed improvement alternates, project schedule and seek public input and comments regarding the project. |
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Available Help at Lake County Job Center with Your Job Search |
Need to Train for a New Career? Out of work?
Not sure where to turn?
Core services are available to assist you with your resume, help you access websites and provide resources to answer your job search questions. Each of the Lake County Job Centers has a resource room with computers, print resources, a fax machine and phone for job seeker use. Each Job Center offers a schedule of workshops on a variety of topics and job clubs to provide on-going support. Intensive services are the next step and involve extensive contact with staff. These services include career assessments, job clubs, in-depth workshops and individual assistance with the job search process. In addition to these services, eligible job seekers may receive funding for training. Under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the Lake County Workforce Development can pay for qualified jobseekers to attend short-term training to enhance their wage and career possibilities. What type of training is available? We individualize training to the customer based upon his/her interests and past work experience. Our customers have attended hundreds of types of training offered through different schools or training programs. Successful completion of the training programs has opened up tremendous job opportunities for our clients. Who qualifies for training?
Training is available to Lake County residents ages 18 and above, and to any individual who has been employed by a Lake County business or organization. Customers qualify based upon income, lay-off status, or special needs. In addition to the eligibility guidelines in WIA, customers must also be legal residents of the United States. Men ages 18 and above must comply with selective service requirements. How do I apply for training?The first step is to attend an information session at one of the Job Centers. The Career Specialist who leads the information session will tell you more about the eligibility process and next steps Where are you located?The Job Centers are located in Waukegan at the corner of Genesee and Washington (1 N. Genesee St.) and in Grayslake on the campus of the College of Lake County (800 Lancer Lane). To find out more about orientation and training, please call 847 377-3450. Information is also available at: http://www.lakecountyjobcenter.com/ |
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Forest Preserve General Offices and Museum Relocates |
The Lake County Forest Preserve recently approved an ordinance for the purchase of property with an existing office building in the Village of Libertyville at 1000 Technology Way. The approximately 6.59 acres will make it possible to consolidate the Lake County Forest Preserve District's General Offices and relocate the Lake County Discovery Museum.
By purchasing a property with an existing, vacant office building off Winchester Road near Route 45 in Libertyville, the Lake County Forest Preserve District would address all of its current and future office space needs in a very affordable and accessible facility located in the center of Lake County. |
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Lake County Forest Preserves
Why Buy Land Now? |
66% of Lake County voters approved a November 2008 Forest Preserve referendum to issue $185 million of bonds to preserve more Forest Preserve lands, restore wildlife habitats, construct trails and complete other improvements.
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Voters understood that approval of the referendum would not increase their current Forest Preserve tax rate because issuance of the new bonds would coincide with retirement of older existing bonds.
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Forest Preserve District is legally obligated to utilize 85% of the bonds within 3 years of their issuance and 100% of the bonds within 5 years.
- The bonds have to be used for their stated purpose - land acquisition and public access improvements.
$148 million of the bonds were designated for use in purchasing 2,500 to 3,500 acres of land.
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Many willing sellers have approached the District to offer properties that are highly desirable for Forest Preserve purposes at very favorable prices.
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In 2009, 28 acquisitions were approved by the board of commissioners, adding 811 acres, including additions to 14 preserves and adding 2 entirely new preserves, at an average cost per acre of $40,900.
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Natural areas protected as Forest Preserves help protect and enhance area property values.
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Forest Preserve lands don't put added burdens on other tax-supported government services, such as schools, roads, water and sewer, police and fire, and libraries.
$37 million of the bonds were to be used for habitat restoration, trails and public access improvements.
- Contracts with area construction firms, landscape contractors, building suppliers and other businesses to complete the bond-funded Forest Preserve improvement projects are reinvested in the area economy.
- Forest Preserve public access improvements give Lake County residents more convenient access to low-cost, close-to-home opportunities for outdoor recreation and education with family and friends.
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Roadway Construction Scheduled to Begin This Summer |
Resurface  50-year-old Pavement and Rehabilitate Seven Bridge Structures
Edens Spur Tollway (I-94) Resurfacing
A roadway resurfacing and bridge rehabilitation project is scheduled to begin this summer on the Edens Spur Tollway (I-94) between Lake Cook Road and Dundee Road. The work involves removing the top layer of asphalt, performing concrete repairs on the roadway below, and resurfacing with a new, two-inch layer of asphalt. The project also includes construction of noise abatement walls with in the project limits.
Edens Spur Tollway (I-94) Bridge Rehabilitation
Seven bridge structures will be rehabilitated as part of the project, including expansion joint replacement and bridge deck repairs or in some cases, deck replacement. The bridges include the northbound Tri-State Tollway (I-94) Lake Cook Road exit ramp bridge over the Edens Spur, the Edens Spur Bridges in both directions over the Metra Railroad, Union Pacific Railroad, and Skokie Boulevard.
Illinois Tollway Works to Minimize Impact by Completing Project in 2010
All work is scheduled for completion by the end of 2010 as part of the Illinois Tollway's Congestion-Relief Program - Open Roads for a Faster Future. The Illinois Tollway plans to complete the mainline resurfacing work on the Edens Spur by the end of fall with an aggressive schedule to provide new, smooth pavement as quickly as possible. One lane in both directions will be maintained during construction due to constraints at bridges and to expedite repairs. The Edens Spur serves both commercial truck traffic and commuters. Average daily traffic volume along the Edens Spur has grown from a high of about 13,000 vehicles a day in 1970 to a high of nearly 47,000 vehicles daily in 2008.
Getting Tollway Construction Info
The Tollway offers a variety of ways for drivers to get the latest information, including:
· www.illinoistollway.com - Construction Section - for details by road
· 1-800-TOLL-FYI - daily lane closure info
· www.gcmtravel.com - travel times
· Up-to-the-minute traffic by road - www.nbcchicago.com
· eNewsletter - www.illinoistollway.com
Part of Tollway's Congestion-Relief Program
The resurfacing of the Edens Spur Tollway (I-94) is part of the Illinois Tollway's $6.3 billion Congestion-Relief Program - Open Roads for a Faster Future, which is reducing travel times by rebuilding/restoring nearly all of the system, widening/adding lanes to many miles of existing roads, converting 20 mainline toll plazas to barrier-free Open Road Tolling, and extending I-355 south to I-80 in Will County. By the end of 2009 the Illinois Tollway completed more than $5 billion in improvements on the Tollway's roads, resulting in more efficient travel and a smoother ride for motorists.
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80). |
| Traffic Updates |
Lake County PASSAGE offers mobile web and PDA users a text version of traffic events throughout Lake County. This message can include incidents, active roadwork, and scheduled events. Mobile Passage is the answer to travelers who want to know the most current information about road conditions in Lake County from their mobile or PDA device. To view the mobile website from your PC, please click the link below.
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Print Prescription Drug Card |
County residents can take advantage of a prescription drug discount card program. The free card that is accepted at most pharmacies offers average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. This is intended for people without prescription coverage or on medicines not covered by your plan. The card may also be used where accepted to fill prescriptions for pets. To receive a card, click here.
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| View Past Issues of Lake County News |
I have archived my newsletters for your convenience. To view archived Lake County News from Craig Taylor click here.
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