Later this spring, the City of Crystal Lake will be expanding the existing commuter parking lot along Railroad Street to extend completely between Second Street and Grant Street. The exhibit below shows the proposed improvements. The improvements included in this project are:

• Additional commuter parking spaces
•  Additional motorcycle parking spaces
• Additional bike racks
• New roadway lighting along Railroad Street and Grant Street, matching the decorative poles throughout the rest of the Downtown district

With the expansion of this commuter parking lot, the City is also evaluating the option of expanding Railroad Street to one-way, eastbound only traffic between Second Street and Grant Street. Currently, Railroad Street is eastbound one-way between Grant Street and Main Street. Potential benefits from this change include the addition of landscape islands along the roadway, which would allow the installation of parkway trees, as well as provide additional on-street commuter parking. This project will also allow the conversion of the remaining paid parking spaces in the Depot Parking Lot to free four-hour parking.

An open house for this improvement will be held at City Hall on Monday February 11, 2013 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Please stop by at any time during these hours. If you are unable to attend, feel free to express any comments or concerns regarding this improvement via letter to the attention of the Engineering and Building Department, an email to construction@crystallake.org, or by calling Steve Carruthers at (815) 356-3605. Comments should be provided no later than February 13. Thank you in advance for your input.

Railroad Street Parking Lot Expansion Exhibit