The annual fall leaf collection program is
scheduled for Oct. 20 - Nov. 28, with six pickups planned
for each section of the Village. Residents should rake their
leaves into the street at least 18 inches from the curb the day
before the scheduled pickup dates indicated on the map. Leaves
raked into the street will be pushed into piles by Public Works
crews during the night to reduce impact on traffic and parked
cars. Leaves will be collected the following day. Residents who
miss a scheduled pickup date should keep their leaves on the
parkway until the night before the next scheduled pickup.
Sweepers will be scheduled to run at the end of the collection
program to clean up residue. Cooperation is essential to the
success of this operation, so please follow these simple rules:
• Leaves
only -- do not add brush, grass clippings or yard waste.
• Do not
park on or near a pile of leaves, which can hinder leaf removal
operations. Heat from a car also could ignite the leaves.
• Rake
leaves onto side streets whenever possible. Try to avoid major
thoroughfares where piles of leaves might create traffic
hazards.
• Do not
rake leaves into or close to cul de sacs or traffic diverters.
The equipment needs room to operate.
• Keep
catch basins clear of raked leaves to avoid flooding.
• Inform
your landscape service of the leaf collection schedule.
• Obey
all parking restrictions. Regulations will be strictly
enforced.
• Dampen
piles after raking to avoid leaves being blown by the wind.
• As an
alternative to raking, consider composting or using the leaves
as garden mulch.
• Drive
carefully. Leaves are slippery when wet and large piles may
hinder visibility.
The ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers
expires Oct. 15. For more information call 358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us.
Fall 2003 LEAF
COLLECTION SCHEDULE
"Cap the Ike" Study begins
The Village has launched its Cap the IKE
Study, which will examine all aspects of the feasibility of
"capping" the Eisenhower Expressway between Harlem
Avenue and Austin Boulevard. The study will include nine
phases, ranging from community outreach and visioning, to data
collection and development of concepts based on community
input. The final report, expected to be completed in about a
year, will outline implementation steps and identify potential
funding sources. Citizen participation efforts will include
workshops, interviews, surveys, vision sessions and a dedicated
section on the Village's web site, www.oak-park.us. A citizen volunteer
Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) will be formed to provide
ongoing community input to both the consultants and the Village
throughout the study. This study is funded by a $225,000 state
grant and a $25,000 Village match. For more information on the
study or to volunteer to serve on the advisory committee call
358.5778 or email at CapTheIke@oak-park.us.
Public Input Sought into I-290, I-88
Corridor Transportation Study
Residents can help Chicago area
transportation planners begin developing options to reduce
congestion along I-290 and I-88 in Cook and DuPage counties by
participating in a market analysis. The first phase of the
Regional Transportation Authority's (RTA) Cook-DuPage
Corridor Study is using a questionnaire to gather initial
public input into an analysis of travel demand in the
high-traffic I-290/I-88 corridor. A copy of the questionnaire
is posted on the RTA website (www.rtachicago.com/business/currentprojects.asp) along with the
draft project management plan, a study area map and a schedule.
The RTA also is interested in public comments on the scope of
the study, which is being co-sponsored the Illinois Department
of Transportation, the Illinois Toll Highway Authority and the
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission. Oak Park residents
can review the official Village comments on the study by
visiting www.oak-park.us, click on news, then and the I-290 icon along
the right column. The comments were prepared with the
assistance of the citizen volunteers on the I-290 Eisenhower
Citizen Advisory Committee.
