Get Involved

An important part of the Illinois I-270 Preliminary Engineering Study is public participation.  IDOT will utilize Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS) as a means to engage continually stakeholders throughout the study process.  As identified in IDOT’s CSS policies, stakeholder involvement is critical to a study’s success. The CSS process strives to achieve the following:

• Understand stakeholders’ key issues and concerns;
• Involve stakeholders in the decision-making process early and often;
• Establish an understanding of the stakeholder’s role in the study;
• Address all modes of transportation;
• Set a project schedule; and
• Apply flexibility in design to address stakeholder’s concerns whenever possible.

For more information on IDOT’s CSS process, please visit the following website at: Context Sensitive Solutions

The Stakeholder Involvement Plan (SIP) provides guidelines for implementing stakeholder involvement activities during the Illinois I-270 Preliminary Engineering Study.

The SIP calls for early and continuous involvement by key stakeholders and the public so that the study team can meet the following objectives:

• Understand key issues, concerns, opportunities, and challenges of the study area;
• Establish a process that allows all stakeholder types to obtain information and provide input;
• Build trust with key stakeholders; and
• Use stakeholder input to inform the decision-making process and final recommendation.

Please click here to view the Stakeholder Involvement Plan.

The first public informational meeting for the Illinois I-270 Preliminary Engineering Study was held on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Southwestern Illinois College’s (SWIC) Sam Wolf - Granite City Campus in Granite City, Illinois. Thirty-seven (37) people attended. Upon entering the meeting, attendees were given an informational handout and a comment form. Additional information can be found in the Public Involvement Summary Report.

Additional information on the public informational hearing can be found in Public Involvement Summary Report.

Click here to view the Public Involvement Summary Report and click here for the Virtual Public Meeting Presentation.

What is this study?
This is the Illinois I-270 Preliminary Engineering Study; a Preliminary Engineering and Environmental Study to determine the preferred option for addressing traffic growth, decreasing congestion and improving safety along I-270 from the Riverview Drive interchange in St. Louis, Missouri to Illinois Route 157 in Madison County, Illinois.

Why is IDOT conducting this study?
There are significant traffic issues concerning congestion and safety along the study corridor. The purpose of this study is to investigate the best method for addressing these issues while also addressing traffic growth.

When will the study be completed?
The first phase of the Illinois I-270 Preliminary Engineering Study will be completed in the Spring of 2021.

When does construction begin?
The exact timeframe for construction has not yet been established. Several sections of the project are included in IDOT’s Multi-Year Program.

Does the public get a chance to comment on alternatives being developed or which alternatives are selected for moving forward? If so, how?
There had been several opportunities for the public to comment on alternatives developed by the study team and to provide their input on what alternative(s) should be considered for further study. Providing your input can still be done by writing letters or emails to the IDOT point of contact for this study. Each comment will be logged, reviewed and addressed accordingly.

Who can I contact to provide my comments?

Tiffany Brase
Studies & Plans Engineer
Illinois Department of Transportation
District 8
1102 Eastport Plaza Drive
Collinsville, IL 62234
Phone: 618-346-3175
Email: Tiffany.Brase@Illinois.gov

Future public informational meeting will provide additional opportunities to receive study information and provide comment.