Governor should end all talk of Rt. 53 extension

My family and I call on Gov. Rauner to protect Lake County and drop the controversial Route 53 extension.

As residents of Mundelein, which sits directly in the path of the extension, we are especially concerned that Route 53 will increase traffic congestion, accelerate uncontrolled land development, and endanger our public health.

Lake County stands out in the Chicago region thanks to its open space, natural areas, and first-class wetlands. The Route 53 extension would set a dangerous precedent for the future by prioritizing development over everything that contributes to the quality of life we enjoy.

Perhaps even more troubling, Route 53 promotes large-scale land development with a projected 25,000 new homes, 65,000 new residents, and 42 new schools.

In addition to the homeowners who will be negatively impacted along the proposed extension, the extension would be built literally hundreds of feet from Mundelein High School and Mechanics Grove Elementary which are along the proposed route.

Any new space on the roadways will be quickly absorbed by this growth, resulting in more traffic congestion than we face today. When considering the financial situation currently facing our state, it would be fiscally irresponsible to approve a project currently facing a $1.3 billion (and growing) funding gap.

It is encouraging to read that IDOT Secretary Blankenhorn has acknowledged that Route 53 can't go to the governor without community support. We agree with Lake County board member Steve Carlson and with Lake County Board President Aaron Lawlor, who oppose this project.

We urge Gov. Rauner to do the right thing and end, once and for all, the decades-old debate about Route 53 by permanently dropping this project.

Chris Cooper

Mundelein