STEWARD — Two public information meetings were held on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 on the ongoing Steward-Caron Road Industrial Corridor (SCRIC) study, which is being conducted by Blackhawk HIlls Regional Council at the request of the City of Rochelle, Village of Steward and Lee County regarding the development between Rochelle’s southeastern industrial area and Steward.

The study aims to improve conditions around current and future development for the best interests of the area. The Sept. 30 meeting was held at Steward Elementary School and saw attendance by about 40 residents, including city, village and Lee County officials.

The study will yield findings on the impact of trucks and trains on local communities, proposals to move people and freight safely through the corridor and recommendations on how to improve transportation systems and other key infrastructure. It is currently gathering community feedback and plans to finish its recommendations by the end of 2024.

"This study set out to try to focus on what we can do to make sure that future industrial projects in this area are win-win and that the impacts are as minimal as possible," Lee County Industrial Development Association CEO Tom Demmer said. "What can we do when the next project comes to try to have a plan in place for how we can improve safety, quality of life, and the flow of traffic?"

The SCRIC Strategic Plan focuses on Steward and Caron Roads and areas accessed by the roads and considers activity within a five-mile corridor. It looks to address current transportation issues, such as truck traffic through the Village of Steward, and to keep them from getting worse in the future. The area of the study has seen industrial development in recent years and it's expected it will see more, with seven current ongoing projects at various levels for new development.

"Of all the counties that we represent, this is the hottest county for industrial development," BHRC Executive Director Daniel Payette said. "That's because of the assets that are here today like the highways and interstate system and railroads. We have to start planning to mitigate concerns that arise with things like traffic."

The study reviewed truck flows and counts, including those that travel down Main Street in Steward, which has been a concern for the village due to pedestrians and children near the school and trucks' impact on the quality of life of residents. Per 24 hours, 30 percent of the traffic on Steward's Main Street is trucks.

The Sept. 30 presentation detailed a concept plan to ease truck traffic through Steward that would relocate Interstate 39 southbound on and off ramps to bypass the village. The bypass would be shorter, faster and avoid rail crossings. There would still be access to the village from Interstate 39 under the concept plan, which is awaiting Federal Highway Administration feedback.

City of Rochelle Economic Development Director Jason Anderson said the potential change to road infrastructure would be a long process, but large economic development investments coming to the area would make it attractive for government funding.

"If Rochelle grows like I think it's going to, and I know it will, and then something isn't done to change how things are, truck traffic through Steward will quadruple," Steward Village President Hugh McKiski said.

Village of Steward Trustee Laura Salazar said she wants to see a balance in the future of quality of life, safety and growth in Steward.

"One thing I think all of Steward can agree on is the fact that we don't want trucks going through town on Main Street creating noise and pollution and going by our school," Salazar said. "It has to be addressed. But development and opportunities to fund better things for the village have to be in our minds as well."