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What is the Lockport Street streetscape improvement project?
The Village of Plainfield will be conducting a comprehensive construction project on Lockport Street that will include replacement of the aging water main and water and sanitary sewer service laterals, as well as a complete reconstruction of Lockport Street between James Street and Illinois Street. The project will provide an enjoyable, safe and comfortable pedestrian environment for shopping and dining by providing expanded sidewalks with outdoor dining opportunities and store displays, abundant seating on benches and seat walls, extensive landscaping, additional pedestrian-scaled lighting, and enhanced signage. Lockport Street will be narrowed to two travel lanes by eliminating the center turn lane, and safe pedestrian crossings will be facilitated with strategic mid-block pedestrian crossings and raised intersections. The streetscape improvement project will help establish downtown Plainfield as a destination to showcase the unique shops, family-owned restaurants and personal and professional service businesses that are the foundation for a thriving and successful downtown business district as the heart of the Plainfield community.

The public is invited to view samples of the materials that will be used in the streetscape project, which are on display at the project construction office at 24040 W. Lockport St. between Cathy's Sweet Creations and Sunny Side of the Street Antiques. The specified limestone, brick pavers, granite accent banding, and colored concrete material samples are on display along with a sample pedestrian bench and trash receptacle. An artist's rendering of the proposed improvements is also available to illustrate the proposed improvements.

Why is the Village conducting the streetscape improvement project?
The Village has a unique opportunity to undertake the streetscape improvement project for two key reasons:

(1) The Village will be replacing the water main and water and sewer service laterals in Lockport Street and a portion of Main Street, which will require road and sidewalk reconstruction and restoration. The streetscape improvement project can be implemented as part of the reconstruction and restoration with significant efficiency and cost savings, while also providing a greatly enhanced pedestrian environment.

(2) Lockport Street between Main Street and Illinois Route 59 is now under the Village’s jurisdiction as a local road. This segment of Lockport Street had been a state-controlled highway as the designated U.S. Route 30 (the historic Lincoln Highway). In February, 2008, the alignment of U.S. Route 30 through downtown Plainfield was shifted from Lockport Street to 143rd Street. The Village worked cooperatively with Will County, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and the federal government to complete the jurisdictional transfer and re-route. The new alignment, coupled with future planned transportation improvements, will eliminate a significant volume of traffic – including truck traffic – from downtown Plainfield, to help foster a more enjoyable downtown shopping and dining environment. Look for details in the near future regarding a celebration of the re-route of U.S. Route 30 from Lockport Street to 143rd Street, which is a significant accomplishment that has been planned for many, many years and was recently completed.

What area is included in the streetscape improvement project?
The streetscape improvements will be constructed on both sides of Lockport Street between James Street and Illinois Street. Limited improvements may be made to Lockport Street between Main Street and James Street, to Lockport Street between Illinois Street and Route 59, and on the intersecting side streets (James Street, Fox River Street, Des Plaines Street and Illinois Street) as they approach Lockport Street.

Why is my street or block not included in the project?
The streetscape improvement project will take advantage of a unique opportunity to improve Lockport Street as part of a water main replacement project that is required due to the condition of the aging utility infrastructure in Lockport Street. Since the water main must be replaced, and the road surface and sidewalks will be affected, the streetscape improvements can be constructed with certain efficiencies and cost savings. However, there is a clear scope of work and limited budget available to complete the desired improvements. Cost limitations prevent the Village from completing a larger area at this time. For areas that are not currently included, Village staff believes that the proposed improvements could be incorporated in these additional areas as part of future private development or, possibly, as part of future utility construction and restoration work. Separately, areas adjacent to IDOT roadways – such as Lockport Street between Illinois Street and Route 59, and between Main Street and James Street – are subject to IDOT jurisdiction and state design requirements, which may prevent a full implementation of the streetscape improvements in these locations.

How will the streetscape project affect parking once the project is completed?
The final design at the current stage shows an increase in the number of on-street parking spaces on Lockport Street. The parking count is subject to change as the construction plans are completed. Village staff recognizes the importance of providing on-street parking in proximity to downtown businesses and thus established a design requirement that the project would not decrease the amount of on-street parking that is currently available. Village staff also understands that the demand for parking will continue to grow. Village staff will continue to identify opportunities for additional on-street and off-street parking in the downtown district as parking demand warrants. In December 2007, the Plainfield Village Board authorized the lease of 96 parking spaces south of Lockport Street between Illinois Street and Route 59 (adjacent to the former First Midwest Bank building) to greatly expand the number of availabel public parking spaces in the downtown.

When will construction begin on the streetscape improvement project?
The Plainfield Village Board has awarded a contract for the installation of new water services in the majority of buildings on Lockport Street. This work began in in early February of 2008 and will be completed by April. The Village is has selected a construction manager (the George Sollitt Construction Co.) for the remaining work. Sollitt began the water main installation, road reconstruction and streetscape improvements on March 24, 2008.

Interested parties are encouraged to visit this website frequently for updates to theconstruction schedule.

How long will construction last on the streetscape improvement project and when will it be completed?

The major utility and road construction work began in late-March, 2008 and be scheduled to be substantially complete by late-October, 2008. Substantial completion includes opening of Lockport Street to two-way traffic and a substantial completion of the pedestrian zones. Limited activites, such as landscaping, singage, and gateway feature installation, may extend beyond the substantial completion date. Village staff are committed to restoring Lockport Street to full utilization prior to the 2008 holiday shopping season.

Will Lockport Street be closed to vehicular traffic during construction?
Village staff believes it is critically important to maintain at least one direction of vehicular traffic on Lockport Street throughout construction. Limited periods of full closure with detours likely will be required to complete certain improvements. Once construction begins, weekly updates about temporary road closures and detours will be provided at this website. See the Detour Map for an illustrated map of the current detour route.

Upon completion of the project, Lockport Street will be re-opened to two-way traffic. The current one-way detour is temporary for construction only.

Where will I be able to park during construction?
On-street parking will be maintained on Lockport Street for the lane of traffic that is maintained. In addition, Village staff intends to provide off-street parking in close proximity to Lockport Street to offset the loss of on-street parking spaces that may not be available due to construction. As noted above, the Village has leased the parking lot adjacent to the former First Midwest Bank building, south of Lockport Street between Illinois Street and Route 59, for public parking. The Village is also making available the parking lot at the southwest corner of Lockport Street and Des Plaines Street (adjacent to Andreasen Travel) for public parking after 6 p.m. only (parking spaces are reserved during daytime office hours).

For detailed parking lot locations, please refer to the Village's Downtown Parking Map showing the location of all available parking.

Will the sidewalks be open during construction?
Public sidewalk access will be maintained to each building entrance throughout the construction project. Occasionaly, very limited interruptions to individual entrances may be necessary during transition periods or for specific required improvements. These interruptions will be communicated to building- and business-owners well in advance and will be scheduled at times of minimum impact (for example, before or after business hours). Village staff is currently collecting information from downtown businesses about store hours and peak times to avoid that will facilitate this construction scheduling. In addition, the Construction Manager has made provisions for two full-time field personnel to assist with pedestrian safety during construction.

How can I find out more about the streetscape improvement project?
Information about the project is available in many ways. The project website, www.plainfieldstreetscape.com , provides access to project plans, contact information for Village staff and consultants, and a listing of upcoming events. Village staff and its consultants are holding outreach meetings on Friday mornings at 8 a.m. at various business locations as another avenue of sharing information and receiving ongoing input on the project. The meeting schedule is listed on the project website, and a sign designating the meeting location will also be placed downtown prior to the meeting. Additional information may be posted at the Plainfield Public Library (15025 S. Illinois St.) and at the construction office located at 24040 W. Lockport St.

How do I ask questions or provide comments on the streetscape improvement project?
Questions may be submitted via this website at any time by selecting the “Feedback/Comments” link from the main menu. You may submit questions or comments via e-mail using the form provided. Interested parties are also invited to call Village staff at any time to discuss the project. Contacts include Jonathan Proulx, AICP, Planner II, who can be reached at (815) 609-6139, or Randall Jessen, Superintendent of Public Improvements, at (815) 436-3577. You can also download a comment card from this website and return it in any of the methods indicated on the card (drop-off, fax, U.S. Mail).

How was the plan for the streetscape improvement project developed?
A conceptual plan for Lockport Street was prepared over the course of more than a year by the Lockport Streetscape Committee, which was formed in January 2006. The primary goal of the plan is to enhance the economic viability of downtown Plainfield by improving the pedestrian environment. Representatives of the committee toured other communities to identify streetscape elements that were successful and those items would not be compatible with our goals. The Committee met frequently to methodically review each streetscape element and to prepare a conceptual plan. Outreach meetings were held with the downtown businesses and property owners in September 2006 and a public open house was held in November 2006. Following a presentation to the Village of Plainfield Village President and Board of Trustees in December 2006, the concept plan was adopted in January 2007. The concept plan and summary brochure are available for viewing and downloading from this website by selecting the “Plans/Information” link from the main menu.

The Village then requested proposals from qualified engineering and land planning firms to prepare construction documents based on the concept plan. A total of 13 firms or teams of firms responded. The Village ultimately selected the team of Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., and The Lakota Group, to lead the construction plan preparation. Since June of 2007, Village staff and the design team, in conjunction with the Lockport Streetscape Committee, have been refining the concept plan, gathering additional public input, and preparing the final construction documents.

What is the Lockport Streetscape Committee?
The Lockport Streetscape Committee was formed by the Village of Plainfield Village President and Board of Trustees in December 2005 to plan for the upcoming opportunity to reconstruct Lockport Street. The Committee is made up of representatives from the Village and business community, as well as downtown residents and property owners. Stakeholder groups that are represented include the Village Board of Trustees, Plan Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Police Department, Public Works Department, Community Development Department, Plainfield Fire Protection District, MainStreet Plainfield, Inc., and the Plainfield Economic Partnership, in addition to the individual business and resident representatives. Committee members are listed on the home page of this website. Interested parties are invited to contact committee members at any time to ask questions or provide input on the project.