Arlington Hts. wants input on bike, pedestrian plan

Arlington Heights is asking for community input as it works with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to create an updated bicycle-pedestrian plan for the village.

An online survey is now available at https://arlingtonheights.metroquest.com/ for residents to weigh in on the state of walking, biking and transportation in Arlington Heights. The online survey will be available through Dec. 1.

"Our goal is to improve bicycle and pedestrian travel in Arlington Heights," said Berenice Vallecillos, CMAP community engagement specialist. "This survey is a way to gather as much community input as possible."

Questions include whether there are enough bike shelters and if pedestrians feel safe crossing major streets. There also is a map option where people can write in comments about what intersections they think are dangerous or what else is needed in the community, Vallecillos said.

The project is a partnership between the village's bike and pedestrian committee and CMAP, which has worked with several other suburbs on bicycle and pedestrian plans.

Arlington Heights created a bicycle plan in 1988 and updated it in 1996, but according to village documents "a comprehensive update is needed to incorporate current best practices, emphasize connections with neighboring communities and regional destinations, and reflect the village's successful focus on transit-oriented development."

According to documents from the agency, the village already has a network of on-street bicycle routes, off-street paths and one short bike lane, but there are problems.

"The pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly downtown and neighboring residential areas are unfortunately surrounded by arterial roads with little or no bicycle accommodations and an inconsistent or incomplete sidewalk network," reads a report from the agency. "Safe crossings for bicyclists and pedestrians are often absent."

Once results of the survey are collected, CMAP will hold a vision meeting and put together a list of recommendations for the village board in 2015, Vallecillos said.

Updates about the Arlington Heights project are available online at http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/programs-and-resources/lta/arlington-heights-bike-ped.