What is a Complete Street?
According to the US Department of Transportation, a Complete Street is designed and operated to enable safe use and support mobility for all users. Those include people of all ages and abilities, regardless of whether they are travelling as drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or public transportation riders. The concept of Complete Streets encompasses many approaches to planning, designing, and operating roadways and rights-of-way with all users in mind to make the transportation network safer and more efficient.
The preferred alternative for the Ridge Road project incorporates these Complete Street principles by reducing the lane widths, which shortens pedestrian crossing length and naturally slows down traffic. Lane width reduction is a traffic-calming measure intended to slow the average speed in the corridor. The project will also include improvements to pedestrian traffic signals and adjustments to the traffic signal timing. This timing adjustment, along with a reduced speed, is intended to move a higher volume of traffic through the intersections more efficiently at a reduced speed which increases safety for all roadway users. Lastly, improvements to lighting will enhance visibility and as a result improve safety.
What is the timeline for Engineering and when would construction commence?
Late 2023 – End 2025
Traffic Studies and Preliminary Engineering
Early 2026 – Mid 2027
Public Meetings, Coordination with Businesses and Neighbors, and Engineering Design
Early 2027 – End 2027
Utility Relocations and Continued Coordination with Businesses and Neighbors
Late 2027 – Mid 2029
Phased Construction
How can I get involved and receive project updates?
Community participation at the Public Information Meetings is highly encouraged. More information will be provided on the website when the dates and times are finalized. At the conclusion of the Public Meetings, the information shared will be posted to this website. Please continue to check this website to see project updates and to participate in upcoming activities.
If you have questions about the project, please connect with the team at: renewridgeroad@munster.org
Where can I review past plans that relate to this project?
The Ridge Road Complete Street project builds upon the adopted Calumet-Ridge Streetscape Plan and other past planning efforts by the Town of Munster. Links to relevant past efforts follow below:
How is this study funded and how will future improvements be funded?
Munster has been awarded a grant from the Federal Government. (link to the RAISE grant) RAISE Grant: Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity. The terms of the grant specify that 80% of the funding will come from FHWA, and the remaining 20% come from local funding sources. These funds cover the study, engineering, and construction costs.
What are the project limits?
The project area is along Ridge Road, from the State Line (to the west) to Columbia Avenue (to the east)
What has been going on along Ridge Road?
A preliminary engineering assessment for Ridge Road was completed and shared with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) in October 2024. The study identified a preferred alternative that is different from what was originally proposed in the RAISE grant application. After working closely with FHWA, an amendment to the RAISE grant was submitted and is currently being reviewed by FHWA and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
While that review is taking place, planning and design work along the Ridge Road corridor has continued and is now ready for community input.
Are improvements to private properties and building façades included in this project?
All design work associated with this project is focused on the public rights-of-way only (roadways, sidewalks, and adjacent parkway spaces). Therefore, private improvements, such as building facades, parking lots, and privately controlled properties, are not included in this project. If a property owner plans to implement private improvements, please notify the project team so we can ensure our work is well coordinated.
Will this change increase traffic congestion?
The proposed changes to Ridge Road will maintain the road’s current capacity while encouraging lower speeds to enhance safety. Planned improvements to traffic signals along this segment will optimize signal timing, helping traffic move more smoothly and efficiently at safer speeds.
I live on a street within a couple of blocks of Ridge Road. Will traffic just use the side streets as a cut-through?
This is a concern that will be reviewed in much detail. The Town also has an interdepartmental staff team that reviews speed on residential streets and is researching and testing traffic-calming measures that can slow traffic down on commonly used cut-through streets. Once people realize that they have to drive slowly, the street is no longer an attractive cut-through.
What about all the local businesses in the corridor?
When the Town began planning this improvement, we established a steering committee composed of multiple stakeholders, including business owners of small, medium, and large retail establishments located on Ridge Road. Their feedback was incorporated into the plan. When presented with the choice of which direction to recommend to Council, the Steering Committee unanimously chose the alignment that reduced Ridge Road to three lanes.
Local businesses will benefit from a more beautiful and welcoming streetscape setting, new on-street parking for their customers, additional sidewalk space for benches and outdoor dining, and more visibility to passing traffic, which will no longer be able to speed past at 45 mph.
How will Emergency Services Access Ridge Road?
Emergency service vehicle access was one of the main justifications for submitting an amendment and recommending a 5-lane section. Emergency responders will be able to access Ridge Road the same way that they currently do. The project team has met with emergency responders throughout the region and will continue to coordinate with them as final design progresses and throughout construction to make accommodations as needed to support these essential services.
Ridge Road 