Making Connections-A Future Initiative
Yorkville's Integrated Transportation Plan

New! - Connections Newsletter Issue 3

New! - Public Open House Presentation

New! - Public Open House Downtown Streetscape Exhibits

New! - Public Open House Trail Network Exhibits

As the city's population continues to soar, it is imperative for Yorkville to plan future alternative transportation facilities. In 2004, the Illinois Department of Transportation awarded the United City of Yorkville funds to complete an Integrated Transportation Plan. This plan outlines important community issues such as transportation, impact on economic opportunities, the protection of natural resources, and will aid in providing improved public access and mobility. This past year the City hired SEC Group, Inc. as consultants for the project.

A two-step process

The focus of Yorkville's Integrated Transportation Plan is twofold. The first step is identifying and prioritizing important trail linkages. Secondly, the project will address how the trail system will move through Yorkville's downtown and the streetscape elements (such as pavement elements, lighting, benches, etc) necessary to make Yorkville's downtown pedestrian friendly and inviting.

Conserve, reuse, recycle

The United City of Yorkville is environmentally conscious and is currently looking for ways to conserve, reuse and recycle. The concept of alternative transportation fits into our blueprint. Alternative transportation has become increasingly important to the Yorkville community as gas prices continue to rise and the need to conserve energy becomes necessary. A trail network will provide Yorkville residents with the ability to walk or cycle to destinations such as school, work, shopping centers, or parks in addition to providing recreational cycling throughout Yorkville and Kendall County. An important component of the Integrated Transportation Plan is Yorkville's downtown area.

The City with a river in its heart

The Integrated Transportation Plan is important to the revitalization of Yorkville's downtown area. A pedestrian friendly environment will not only rejuvenate the downtown area, but will create Yorkville as a destination for residents, visitors and recreational enthusiasts as a great place to live, work and play!

Why an Integrated Transportation Plan

During a 2007 Parks and Recreation Department survey, 53 percent of Yorkville residents rated bike trails as one of the most desired facilities. Eighty-three percent of residents felt that bike trails were an important offering of the Parks and Recreation Department. As a result, the City conducted a new survey focusing on trails and non-vehicular modes of travel. The results will be used to determine and implement ideas and strategies to improve bicycle and pedestrian transportation locally and regionally.

Involvement is the key

• Public Workshops--The last public workshop was held on Thursday, May 14, 2009.  Attendees provided input on what trail locations were priorities to the City and indicated their preference of streetscape elements.  Click here to view the presentation from the May public workshop.  View the downtown streetscape and trail network exibits which were on display at the workshop.  If you were unable to attend the public workshop, but would like to comment on the plan, please contact, Stephanie Boettcher.
• Task Force Committee Meetings--Four task force committee meetings were held throughout the public involvement process.  The final meeting was held in April 2009.   
• Be Informed--Review the goals and objectives of the Integrated Transportation Plan.  Download the goals and objectives and provide comments to Stephanie Boettcher .  Also, the third Integrated Transportation Plan newsletter Connections hit newsstands the second week of May.  Copies of the newsletter are available at City Hall, the REC Center, the Parks and Recreation Riverfront Building , and the Yorkville Public Library.  Connections will be printed quarterly and is produced specifically to inform and update residents on the progress of the Integrated Transportation Plan. Download Connections newsletter - Issue 3 Connections newsletter - Issue 2   Connections newsletter - Issue 1.