Caterpillar, City of Peoria, Streets

Caterpillar opposes changes to Washington Street

40 Comments

Caterpillar, Inc., sent the following letter to all City Council members on August 20, 2009:

To the City of Peoria,

While Caterpillar has long supported downtown revitalization efforts, the latest feasibility study for reworking the Washington Street (U. S. Route 24) corridor causes significant concern for pedestrian safety.

Caterpillar believes the U. S. Route 24 Adams Street / Washington Street Feasibility Study, released in draft form on May 15, 2009, fails to adequately address:

  • The safety of pedestrians (including Caterpillar employees in multiple buildings) in the entire downtown area,
  • The enhancement of safe and efficient traffic flow–especially truck traffic–on Washington, Adams, and Jefferson Streets, and on other routes connected to Washington Street,
  • The impact of this proposed plan on the downtown environment.

Caterpillar has publicly submitted its concerns and questions regarding the feasibility study to David Barber, Director of Public Works, according to procedures given by the City and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Caterpillar believes these questions and concerns must be part of an Illinois Department of Transportation Phase I Study.

If the project is not expected to proceed to a Phase I Study, Caterpillar will seek a discussion of the matter with the City of Peoria and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Thank you.

Tim Elder, Director, Corporate Public Affairs
William Ball, Social Responsibility Manager, Corporate Public Affairs
Raymond Perisin, PE, Sr. Engineering Project Team Leader, Global Facilities Planning

Several thoughts on this. First of all, I’m at a loss as to how Caterpillar can possibly be concerned about pedestrian safety in the proposed plan. The plan would narrow Washington street by widening and improving sidewalks and adding street trees, slowing traffic and reducing the crossing distance for pedestrians. There’s no way that could be considered less safe than the current situation.

Secondly, Caterpillar employees are not affected by Washington or Hamilton street traffic because they have skywalks over these roads already. They can completely avoid crossing at the street level.

Thirdly, slower speeds would make traffic flow safer. Whether it will make it more “efficient” depends on one’s definition of the term. If “efficient” means “fast,” then technically, it will be no less efficient than it is currently. I asked the IDOT representative if they were planning to lower the speed limit on Washington, and they said they were not. The improvements to Washington will only slow traffic that is currently exceeding the speed limit — especially trucks.

Finally, I’m not sure what to make of the last two paragraphs, except that the language sounds a bit bullying to me. It sounds to me like they are demanding their concerns be addressed to the exclusion of other businesses and property owners along the corridor. Caterpillar appears to be throwing their weight around to get their own way on a project that should be benefiting the whole city, not just one company.

40 thoughts on “Caterpillar opposes changes to Washington Street”

  1. Just a thought on your second point from a former Cat guy who has worked in both the Admin Building and the adjoining AH facility. The deck behind the Admin Building is generally reserved for employees who work in that building. Lots and lots of folks park in the large lot to the northeast of the deck – the lot bordered by Washington and Hamilton. Even more people use that as the primary visitor’s lot when attending meetings etc. at the Admin Building (or the neighboring AH Building). Most of the visitors don’t have access to the skywalk – not to mention it would be pretty far out of the way to use.

  2. Caterpillar’s comments don’t make much sense because the reduced lanes, reduced speed and possibly reduced through traffic (as through trucks may use 474 to bypass the slower proposed route) would all combine together make the proposed Route 24 safer for pedestrians.

    There are certainly understandable reasons to oppose the project, but pedestrian safety is the wrong one.

    I really don’t think there is enough political will or money to get this project done anyway.

  3. I’m a whole-brain learner. Are there before and after pics? If so, I missed them. Were they published on pjstar online?

    I have also worked in the Admin Building, and it is true, parking in that building is reserved for ONLY certain CAT employees. If you are a visitor or a lowly CAT employee you aren’t even allowed in that parking lot, including all part-timers and contract workers.

    My concern would be, that if the museum ever does get built, then there would be even more pedestrians. Truck traffic on that street is crazy, so reducing lanes would be something I would be against.

    Having said all of that, I do not put it past CAT to “throw their weight around.” It is the way of the world, is it not, that the ones with the most power get the biggest say?

  5. Cat is Peoria and Peoria is Cat. If Cat wants something, it gets it. When has that not been true? Cat employees approximately 110,000 people… oops, those are old figures… approx 90,000. The City of Peoria is residence to 113,000 people.

    Anyone remember Bethlehem Steel? Bethlehem Penn, survived and recently was named one of the best cities in America to live.

  6. Joe said, “I really don’t think there is enough political will or money to get this project done anyway.”

    Bingo. The project wasn’t going to get any money from the council given the current budget deficit (we have to spend that money on new hotels, don’t you know).

    MAWB said, “My concern would be, that if the museum ever does get built, then there would be even more pedestrians.”

    Hahahahahahaha! You were being facetious, right? Museum officials have made it very clear that there will be no pedestrians because, according to them, there’s no place to park. That’s why they’re going to build a parking deck beneath the museum. People will be able to drive to the lot and enter from below. No pedestrian traffic will be generated; only more automobile traffic. And I predict that any increase in automobile traffic will be short-lived.

  7. If you slow down the through traffic on Washington, you will be encouraging motorists to use Adams and Jefferson instead as those streets have the nicely timed traffic lights.

  9. …but the museum is going to generate millions. Right?

    Still, all that traffic is going to have to make it to the parking deck[s] under the museum, unless……………………….

    East Peoria builds a huge ferry system on their side of the river! There will be restaurants, souvenirs, shopping, and even GAMBLING! Don’t forget the charge for the automobile ferry across the river! See how it works?

  10. Christ, is there no post that New Voice doesn’t turn into a diatribe against the museum? He (she) reminds me of my two-year-old.

  11. DIATRIBE: “a bitter, sharply abusive denunciation, attack, or criticism” I prefer the more uncommon usage of diatribe to mean an ironic, or satirical criticism.

  12. kcdad makes another stupid, self-serving, erroneous analogy.

    **Bethlehem lies in the center of the Lehigh Valley, a region of 731 square miles (1,893 km²) that is home to more than 800,000 people.

    How many people live in the Peoria area? 800,000?

    If CAT were to ever leave, Peoria turns into a shopping center with no customers.

  14. Suds O. Nym wrote,

    “Christ, is there no post that New Voice doesn’t turn into a diatribe against the museum? He (she) reminds me of my two-year-old.”

    Suds,
    I was blown away when you decided to tell the entire Peoria Chronicle audience that your two year old thinks along the same lines I do! That even a two year old can see what a waste of time and money this museum project is…….

    I tip my hat to you Suds.

  15. Shanny,

    Here is a “stupid, self-serving, erroneous analogy,”……………….

    – You and anyone with half a brain…………………………

  17. kcdad: Which of those businesses that made Peoria such a economic powerhouse way back when are still here?

    I don’t think you realize how many CAT suppliers have laid off most if not all of their employees since last November. Sure, many were considered “temp”jobs, but they were jobs and many of those people were literally “off the streets”. All of the local temp agencies had 500+ employees (1 had over 1000) – most of them now have less than 100 total. Then, add up all the trucking/transportation jobs to move all those parts and supplies… CAT is the catalyst for this area. Do you get it now?

    LOL cat/catalyst – I couldn’t resist. No, I don’t work for CAT.

  18. “Which of those businesses that made Peoria such a economic powerhouse way back when are still here? ” THAT is exactly my point… Peoria survives despite what businesses are here.

  20. Compared to 30+ years ago, CAT is gone. I believe that District 150 has suffered greatly because of the loss of the factory jobs that will never return. I remember when Chet Dugger, District 150 curriculum director, shocked us all with the predictions of how the end of the smoke stack industries would affect Peoria , District 150–and our students.

  22. Anon: I’m not sure what you don’t understand–my modifier might have been dangling. 🙂 I was simply saying that–in many respects–CAT might as well be gone. Thirty or forty years ago, the goal of many of my students was to get a job at Caterpillar–especially, after the racial barriers were removed. Many of them did–and, consequently, their own children went to college. Those jobs are gone; the dream is gone; that way of upward mobility is gone.

  23. Sharon makes a key point. Gone are the days when a minimum IQ of 12 and the ability to breath on your own would land you a good job at CAT. The current condition of CAT, or any other major company is a sign of the times.

    Lets not foget OSF, Methodist and the ‘OTHER’ major employers in the area. If we are all going to kiss CATs ass, we might as well kiss theirs as well.

    I am sorry… did I mention the new museum as another major employer? You remember 12 full-time and 30 part-time…?

    That was for you Suds O.Nym [and your two year old!].

  25. New Voice: Ouch–the IQ of 12. I never felt justified in looking down on those who worked at CAT–especially since at least two of them were my relatives who quit school before high school (and that was probably 70 years ago) and worked as welders at CAT for the rest of their lives. Both were probably smart enough to have finished school but in the those days college was much more for the elite of our society. However, I believe you do subtly make an important observation. Our schools are now trying to educate all in our society to succeed in an academic world and to achieve a college level education–something that just has never been done before. I know that reading Friedman’s “The World Is Flat” made me realize that the global economy is putting our young people in a race that many probably can’t win. However, I am not willing to look down on all the people who serve us daily, doing jobs that many of us would not want to do–but our way of life is dependent on them, so I would hope, that we are willing to see to it that they, at least, get the health care and a living wage that they deserve–and, also, our respect and appreciation.
    You did beat me to the punch with Suds–I, too, was amazed that a two-year-old had the wisdom to oppose the museum.
    And while I’m at it–I, too, wonder why Jon is letting Kcdad send him into such a tailspin.

  26. OK, ok. I retract the ‘IQ of 12 thing’, but you HAD to be breathing on your own. I was only making a point..how easy it was to find gainful employment in the ‘good ol’ days’. Shame on you Sharon! I do forgive you though [picture a happy face here]. Anyone and everyone who makes an honest go of it has my respect…for whatever that is worth.

    My problem is with Merle and his constant need to turn everything “into a diatribe against the museum!”

  27. It is interesting that children are pushed, cajoled and taunted into going to college to be academic brains of the future. What is forgotten is the guy that builds the roads to the colleges, the colleges themselves, the desks, floors, walls, dorms and all other things we take for granted today. Somewhere, someway, somehow all of this infrastructure has to be built on a daily basis and those workers are forgotten. Only the ones with college educations are being recognized. Where the heck do people think those chairs in the classrooms come from? Get real folks. Factories are still running this country, not everyone has to have a college degree to make this country survive. And yes I do have a college degree and a doctorate.

  28. SD, I like your post.
    Not everyone wants to or can be, a superstar manager, businessowner, CEO, etc. There is a need for the ditch digger and some people are quite happy doing just that, with no desire to move upward. They may be quite happy in their lives. Those people need to be acknowledged and appreciated even though they don’t need to make a six figure income to be happy.

  29. There is no comparison between Peoria and Bethlehem for numerous reasons. If you disagree then point out the similarities and how a recovery would be similar, okay? If anyone thinks Peoria would be the same if CAT left, then I’m sorry, but you are the half-brains.

    Just what would make Peoria the “economic giant” or economic anything, after CAT leaves? Before CAT was established in Peoria, we were also growing our own apple and pear trees and picking our own strawberries in alleys with chickens running around the yard. Let’s go back to that and raise our own cattle and hogs as well, half-brained kcdad and New Voice. Jerks like you two are all about theory and that is it. Take your theories and try to grow some tomatoes or your nest egg. Or, should society provide that for you? Jerks.

    Here New Voice says,

    “”New Voice on 01 Sep 2009
    Sharon makes a key point. Gone are the days when a minimum IQ of 12 and the ability to breath on your own would land you a good job at CAT. The current condition of CAT, or any other major company is a sign of the times.””

    New Voice, are you saying that UAW members are stupid? It sure sounds like you have little respect for the UAW membership intelligence.

    And, the current condition of CAT? There is a good reason the stock has risen 100% in value from the economic bottom. It having doubled from the bottom shows that It is a viable, valuable company with a future. Any city in America including Bethlehem, PA., would love to have entrenched within its boundries a Caterpillar corporation. I’d bet even San Francisco would take in a CAT corp.

  30. “Jerks like you two are all about theory” yeah… well…

    In or around the 1880’s, Peoria was the nation’s, correction, the WORLD’s leading alcohol spirits manufacturer. Prior to that, it was the state’s main river port along the Illinois river and the location of the first bridge across the river making it a main transportation route and was larger than Chicago or Springfield. The Duryea Brothers invented the successful gas powered cars in 1893. We used to have the stock yards there on the south west side of downtown. (“Peoria= a place where there is an abundance of fat beasts”)
    Here is a brief look at early Peoria’s industrial strength.
    http://www.peoriahistoricalsociety.org/peoindustry.html

    Cat has been good for Peoria… much in the same way as remora is good for its host…

    As for Cat’s requirements for its workers… my brother, a C student (barely) in high school earned more than $22 /hour sweeping floors in one of the East Peoria plants right out of high school… IN 1969 !!!!

  31. Shanny,

    If you took the time to read my follow-up post you will notice I retracted my statement. Now if you would also take the time to pick up a book now and then, you might learn something about Peoria’s history.

    Control yourself.

    Kcdads reference to the booming liquor industry in Peoria was on the mark. Where do you think all of those snappy old houses near Bradley came from? Liquor Barons!

    I owe a great deal to CAT. My father worked at and retired from CAT after 38 years. Why don’t you tell me everything your really know about CATs history [without using Wikipedia].

    Reference one of my earlier posts: what about the OTHER major employers in Peoria – OSF, Methodist, Komatsu, etc? Anyone getting on that bandwagon?

    Shanny, get some type of ‘clue’ before you start…..posting.

    I await YOUR apology.

  32. Thank you for the unnecessary history refresher, NV, kc. I, like most anyone else who was born and raised in Peoria, am aware of Peoria and CAT history especially the basic of basics which you have mentioned. But thanks for trying to show how much more you know than you perceived I did.

    And forgive me for not extending beyond the fruit trees and the chickens in the backyard reference but I was of the thought that the Duryea’s and the liquor barons are dead and gone along with their businesses and therefore are irrelevant, as is Peoria’s history, in regards to any economic recovery in a CATless Peoria. It detracted you two from addressing the questions I posed to you.

    So can either of you point out the similarities between Peoria and Bethlehem and how a recovery in river city would be similar to that of Bethlehem’s? What are the marked differences between Peoria and Bethlehem? Why did Bethlehem “recover”, or at the least, not go to ruin? You can use wikipedia if you want.

    How much of Peoria’s population do you think would evaporate if CAT pulled out? Or do all former CAT employees get absorbed by OSF, Methodist, Komatsu, AFFINA, Paradice, Wal-Mart, McD’s, Applebee’s, and PJS paper routes? Kroger is a union shop. Surely some former broom operators can get on at Kroger and get overpaid stocking overpriced toilet paper and lettuce.

    Again, if either of you thinks Peoria would be the same if CAT left, then I’m sorry, but you are the half-brains. Neither of you know enough about Bethlehem or Peoria to make an intelligent, informed comparison. You just throw out the crapola and expect readers to take it at face value like any non critical thinking C student may.

    And also again, as much as the arrogant, self-absorbed and intellectually stagnant jerk ideologue kcdad dismisses CAT, any city in America including Bethlehem, PA., would welcome with open arms a Caterpillar HQ and its manufacturing plants were they available.

  33. HELLO? Anyone there? Shanny? Take out your pencils.

    1) Why did Caterpillar come to Peoria?

    2) What advantages did Peoria have over Stockton, California?

    3) For what possible reasons will Caterpillar eventually leave Peoria to go someplace else?

    Three questions, one answer.

    Take your time, points will not be taken off for spelling or punctuation.

    Here is link to some hints…
    http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSTRE57K20B20090821
    MOVE OVER CATERPILLAR

    This time around, because Caterpillar and its hometown have been part of a broad transformation in the United States that altered the country’s manufacturing base, the changes in Peoria have been less painful.

    As manufacturing jobs were outsourced, other industries moved in to make up the deficit. One of them was health care.

    Once a town of blue-collar workers, Peoria has become a regional health-care hub as the providers who set up here to serve Caterpillar’s unionized workers expanded, turning rural facilities into feeders for the city’s clinics and hospitals.

  34. Shanny,

    Who pissed in your cornflakes? Take a break! I can’t speak for kcdad, but I said NOTHING about CAT that might be construed as negative [even by you]. I mentioned my father worked at CAT. Trust me I fully comprehend the importance of CAT to the entire area.

    All I said was there were/are OTHER major employers in the area. I did NOT say they could “absorb” local CAT employees if CAT moved out of town. I mean, we have a few thousand unemployed in the area because of CAT layoffs, etc. Where are they going?

    Though I am proud of CAT, do you really think Peoria would die if CAT left? There is a good chance to be sure, but think on this…not every town and/or city has a CAT to fall back on. The sun does not rise and fall on CAT. You never know.

    LAST: When I was referring to CAT workers with an IQ of 12, I was not writing about UAW workers, etc…. I was referring to UPPER MANAGEMENT.

    Shanny, if you play your cards right, maybe you could land one of 12 full-time or 30 part-time jobs at the new museum [if it ever gets built…?].

    P.S. I could care less about Bethlehem, PA.

  35. (1) Close proximity to coal supplies, steel mills, customer base and good rail transportation.

    (2) Holt Caterpillar had planned a Minneapolis plant, but in 1909 Murray M. Baker persuaded them to purchase the dormant Colean Mfg. plant in East Peoria. C. L. Best Tractor had its plant in San Leandro, Calif., but following the 1925 merger which created Caterpillar Tractor Co. all crawler tractor production moved to East Peoria c. 1930. See (1) for the reason.

    (3) Rising cost of doing business – taxes, regulations.

  37. Very good… now where is the coal? Steel Mills? Rail transportation?
    Where is the cheap real estate with few environmental restrictions?
    Where is the cost of doing business (taxes, regulations) less than here?

    That is where Caterpillar will go next.

    “17 million tons, of Illinois coal is consumed in-state. Most of the balance of coal used in the state, about 21 million tons in 1998, comes from Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.”

    And here is some data with which to form your opinions.
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1625f/downloads/ChapterH.pdf

    Illinois still has coal, but not as much and not very clean coal.
    Peoria a rail center? Maybe.
    Steel mills? Not here.
    Cheap real estate? Only if the communities bend over and give it to them because they are afraid of losing them.
    Low taxes and regulations? Pshaw… not here.

    My guess? Just like sports teams, they will go to the community that offers them the most “stuff” or barring that, INDIA. (China, as a country, is the world’s leading producer of coal.)
    http://www.coalindia.nic.in/
    India has cheap labor, lots of coal and a very close relationship with Cat already. As does China.

  38. Illinois still has coal, but not as much and not very clean coal.

    Irrelevant now. Caterpillar now uses natural gas instead of coal. The last conversion was Mapleton and Mossville when AmerenCILCO’s Medina Hills plant went into operation in 2001.

    Peoria a rail center? Maybe.

    Not Maybe. Peoria has eleven common carrier railroads, seven of which are “line-haul” railroads (i. e., handle intercity freight themselves or in cooperation with other carriers). Five of them are observed to regularly handle Caterpillar machinery shipped from East Peoria – BNSF, Canadian National, Norfolk Southern, TP&W and Union Pacific.

    Steel mills? Not here.

    Ever heard of Keystone Steel & Wire? They don’t supply Caterpillar – entirely different type of steel – but we do have a local mill. In fact it’s the area’s second-largest industrial employer. Hanna Steel is a local coil steel processor. NW Indiana has concentration of steel mills. For imports, cheap river transportation comes in handy.

    Caterpillar has a significant imprint on the State of Illinois: Machinery assembly plants in Aurora, Decatur and East Peoria, component production in Aurora, Decatur, East Peoria and Joliet, the Mapleton foundry, engine assembly at Mossville (until 2011), a rubber plant in Peoria, etc., plus numerous suppliers and contractors in the state. A $1 billion plant modernization was announced in mid-2008.

    How many TENS OF BILLIONS would it cost to relocate all of those plants and all of those suppliers?

  40. Rubbish?

    I am honored to have been ‘rubbished’ with the likes of kcdad and David P. Jordan.

    Shanny, I can see this conversation has taken a turn for the dorky.

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