Tell tollway what road project you want adopted
Have your say on what the Illinois tollway’s next big project should be at three upcoming suburban forums.
The agency is at a crossroads, with its $6.3 billion congestion relief program wrapping up. Meanwhile, there’s a host of infrastructure needs out there — and limited cash.
After months of hearing from county governments and transportation advocates all endorsing pet projects, the agency narrowed the field to five options.
These include: widening and rebuilding the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90), extending the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway and building a western bypass around the airport, constructing an interchange at the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) and I-57, expanding Route 53 north into Lake County, and the Illiana Expressway, which would connect I-55 near Joliet to I-65 in Indiana. A new capital plan for the agency will create jobs and stimulate the economy, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Executive Director Kristi Lafleur said.But the tollway already has $6.1 billion in upkeep and maintenance needs through 2026 #8212; so it needs to limit its scope. The agency has indicated the first priorities are the Jane Addams work, Elgin-O#146;Hare project and Tri-State/I-57 interchange.Left off the shortlist is the Prairie Parkway, a proposed highway linking I-88 and I-80 in Kane, Kendall and Grundy counties.The project the tollway picks should not only be an economic stimulus, it needs a public transit component and must reduce congestion, board Chair Paula Wolff said. She noted that the region has the worst congestion in the nation and solutions are needed to ease traffic jams and resulting air pollution.Here#146;s when the forums are scheduled:
Ÿ 3 p.m. Thursday at the Kane County Government Center auditorium, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Geneva;
Ÿ 9 a.m. Friday at the Lake County Permit Facility, 500 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville;
Ÿ 10 a.m. Monday at the DuPage County Government Center, Room 3500 A, 421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton.
Tollway users should attend because the decision #147;can impact them in terms of how fast they get around and what it costs,#148; tollway board Director Bill Morris of Grayslake said. And because the tollway is focused on relieving congestion, he said, drivers #147;can come and explain where they have problems and where they need exits. We want people to understand what it#146;s all about.#148;