About

Project Background

The Will County Division of Transportation is conducting a transportation study to assess options for improving mobility in Eastern Will County.  

The study area is approximately 20 square miles and includes the Will County municipalities Crete, Monee, University Park and parts of Frankfort, Park Forest, Steger and Sauk Village. The study borders the Cook County municipalities of Richton Park and South Chicago Heights. 

Prior work on the project utilized a Planning and Environmental Linkages (PEL) approach, a type of transportation planning study conducted at the corridor or subarea level. This strategy was developed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a "pre-National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)" planning study method. A PEL study for the project has been developed and is awaiting final approval with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and FHWA. The project is preparing to move into Phase I Engineering and Environmental Review. 

Visit the link for more information about the purpose and need of the project.

What is NEPA?

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a federal law that requires transportation agencies to consider potential social and natural environmental impacts. 

The Will County Division of Transportation, with the assistance of IDOT Bureau of Local Roads, and FHWA, is proceeding with a formal NEPA study for the Eastern Will County Freight Mobility Corridor Study nearing completion of the PEL. Once the NEPA review is completed and approved, the project will be able to proceed to final design.

Study Area Map