Client: CH2M Hill, Inc.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Project Sponsor: Illinois Department of Transportation

Project Description
The Heart of Illinois Highway Feasibility Study was conducted to examine potential corridor locations for a new freeway or expressway between Chicago and Peoria. The study area covered over 3,000 square miles, encompassing rural and metropolitan areas within ten counties, as well as scenic and environmentally sensitive regions along the Illinois River. The feasibility of corridor alternatives was based on economic and acceptable environmental impacts. The Addendum to the Study was conducted to evaluate environmental impacts on additional highway corridor alternatives.

Role of Firm
As a sub-consultant to CH2M Hill, cmQue, inc. (formerly CM Technologies) evaluated environmental impacts of additional highway corridor alternatives using a geographic information system (GIS). In the analysis, cmQue assessed impacts of corridor alternatives on farmland, conservation/ natural areas, threatened and endangered species, parklands, woodlands, cultural resources, hazardous waste sites, and mining areas. Isabel Cañete-Medina was responsible for developing the GIS database for this project while working for a previous employer. The GIS was developed as a decision support tool in the location of a major highway corridor between Peoria and Chicago. The system was utilized for environmental analysis, location engineering, origin-destination study (including geocoding of O-D surveys), and developing presentation graphics for public meetings.