McHenry to join Kane, Woodstock in Route 47 study

McHenry County highway leaders agreed Wednesday to team up with Kane County and the city of Woodstock for a major study on how to best develop the fast-growing corridor along Route 47.

The $280,000 study, funded mostly with money from the state, will create a plan for how the counties and municipalities along the highway should proceed in order to encourage economic growth but at the same time avoid significant traffic congestion.

"We want to look at this from a regional perspective," McHenry County Board Chairman Ken Koehler said. "This will tell us how development of that corridor should be done, while we still have open space out there."

The county board's transportation committee voted 6-0 in favor of joining the study and contributing $10,111 toward its costs. Kane County leaders endorsed the study and a $12,889 contribution to it last month, and the Woodstock City Council agreed to pitch in $5,000 Tuesday night.

Kane County is taking the lead on the project, which officials hope to get under way in the spring.

"Economic development is very much dependent on a strong transportation infrastructure," said Jan Carlson, chairman of the Kane County Board's transportation committee. "Route 47 is the next Randall Road."

The study will seek ways to improve traffic flow along the road, particularly in congested areas of Huntley and Woodstock, as well as develop long-term plans for road and business expansion.

Dan Shea, chairman of the McHenry County Board's transportation committee, said it makes sense to draft a plan now before more developers set their sights on Route 47.

"So much of this is done after the developers come out, and that's a mistake," he said.