Barrington voters split on underpass referendum

Barrington voters were split Tuesday on an advisory referendum regarding the proposed Route 14 underpass project, with just 36 votes separating the proposal's supporters from its opponents, according to unofficial vote totals.

The ballot measure asked whether the village should spend public funds on the project, which would carve a path for Route 14 to go beneath the railroad tracks east of Route 59. With all nine precincts reporting, 2,661 voters said 'yes' and 2,625 said 'no.'

Barrington Village President Karen Darch said the question, which was put on the ballot by a group of village residents, was confusing and the results show that.

"People may have voted no because they were saying they don't want taxpayers of village of Barrington to pay for the whole project," Darch said. "That affirms the position that (the village board) has long held."

Federal and state authorities are paying for nearly all of the project, officials note.

The $62 million underpass project, which has been in the works since 2010, would ensure there is always at least one crossing in the village that won't be shut down by train traffic, proponents say.

The advisory referendum also asks about taxpayer funding for a related project to realign Lake Zurich Road. The $5.4 million Lake Zurich Road realignment will move the road south to the intersection of Berry Road and Northwest Highway.

Barring any changes to the current plan, the village would pay $403,317 for the underpass and about $348,700 for the Lake Zurich Road project.