McHenry Times

Illinois state Rep. Tom Weber (R-Springfield) recently encouraged residents of McHenry County to participate in a survey regarding their transportation concerns as part of the county's long-range transportation program, McHenry County Moves 2050.

According to the plan's official website, the first phase involves the public providing opinions on the routes they use throughout the county by vehicle, bicycle, foot or public transit.

“McHenry County Moves 2050 is a countywide, long-range transportation plan to examine the ways that people and goods move in our area and develop solutions that will make it easier for everyone and everything, to get where they need to go," Weber stated on Facebook.

The project's goal is to develop a plan that ensures McHenry County satisfies its residents' transportation needs and improves the county's overall transportation system's performance; residents are currently encouraged to participate in a survey until the plan is finalized next summer.

"No matter how you live, work, play or shop, transportation affects you. The Division of Transportation wants you to be involved in planning the future of transportation in McHenry County," according to a press release from the county.

The draft is expected to be completed by spring 2023, at which point the public and stakeholders will have another chance to comment; the finalized plan is expected to be submitted for approval in June 2023.

Along with the survey, there is an online forum for public discussion and an interactive map.

Additionally, McHenry County plans to begin work on a safety enhancement project on Algonquin Road in March 2022. The project will feature flashing yellow left-turn lights at seven intersections, as well as crosswalk upgrades and other modifications.  

The safety improvements at these crossings were planned in response to a three-car incident in 2019 and another in 2020 that resulted in the hospitalization of three individuals, according to a Daily Herald report.