Tag Archives: Adams Street

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.