Get realistic about traffic in Lake County

Let's put things in perspective. In a recent release on planned county road maintenance expenditures, the county pointed out the need for good upkeep. To replace the 300 miles of county roads would cost $1.6 billion.

So, if all of Lake County's 300 miles of road are worth only $1.6 billion, why is county District 18 representative (and board chair) Aaron Lawlor pushing the 25-mile Route 53/120 project costing $2.6 billion?

It's less than 10 percent of the miles, but at an additional 60 percent of the cost. There is not nearly enough money in any budget to build the Rt. 53 monstrosity.

The proposed funding plans include raising tolls on I-94, adding even higher tolls during peak travel times, adding tolls on exits and entrances that are free now, bringing back the much-loathed Deerfield Toll Plaza, adding a 4 cents-per-gallon gasoline tax - and all of that still leaves a $1.5 billion unfunded gap.

But despite that fiscal reality, we've wasted four years with extended committee meetings and discussions on how Rt. 53 should be built. And now the tollway has issued a call for contractors to do a $50 million environmental impact statement - that will take another four years to complete.

Eight years wasted in discussions, time that could have been used to improve existing roads and transit. So please join me as I call for Aaron Lawlor to pull the plug on this foolishness, and let's move on with meaningful transportation improvements.

Susan Zingle

Wadsworth