County puts a road man on the rails

Ever wonder why you can't easily catch a bus in the northern Fox Valley? Or easily hop on a train without waiting for an hour or two?

Al Jourdan has.

And he's hoping to help make it different.

The former McHenry County and Illinois GOP chairman, who has long been on an ardent quest to improve the region's transportation systems, has a new role. As McHenry County's first representative on the board of the Regional Transportation Authority, Jourdan is hoping he can use his 5-year term to help spur more mass transit for the collar counties.

He's known the need for decades. Some of our first conversations were about his push for regional highways and his hopes to improve the county's transportation system.

About 20 years ago, I saw him draw a map of interstate highways on the back of a place mat with McHenry County in the middle.

Nary a line went through the county.

Two decades later, only the Metra rail line offers a quick way to points east.

"We're an island in the sky," said Al, who is now a lobbyist, usually for road-related industry. "I'm hoping to help people realize that McHenry and Kane counties need more. We have to be prepared for 50 years from now."

All aboard!

Al said he'd like to see more trains coming out this way, to McHenry, Crystal Lake, Elgin, Huntley, Marengo ... hhhhmmm, did you say Huntley and Marengo, Al?

There's no train station in those towns, is there?

Not yet anyway.

"It's something to be looked at," he said. "Obviously, they need service there."

To get more train service, Al said, it's vital to find a place to stack those trains so more than one is available for each region which only have single tracks each way.

As challenging as that will be, it'll be even tougher to find a way to get us more bus options. Or money.

But first things first. He'll take his seat at the table this week.

Welcome to the RTA, Mr. Jourdan. Tell them we're getting desperate out here.

Going to pot

Speaking of transportation, those "worst pothole ever" entries are bumping their way into our pothole contest. Got one? You can win a fish fry, thanks to the West Dundee VFW which has generously donated two fish fry dinners for two.

Better still, we'll let someone official know of the problem and, hopefully, get it fixed.

One of you claims to have found a mile-long pothole --bet y'all can guess where --and another claims to have discovered the site of five missing cars. Fishy indeed!

Mark your entry "Pothole" and send it to amack@dailyherald.com or call and leave a message at (847) 931-5725.

Please be sure to include your name, town and phone number. If you don't feel creative, that's OK. Just tell us where those trouble spots are.

Seeing red

Mary Wawak of Algonquin is wondering why so many roads don't have clearly marked traffic lanes anymore. I've noticed it too. Blurry white and faded yellow seem to be everywhere. One transportation guru told her it's because they use water-based paint.

Given our weather, that didn't make much sense to me. But, before I check with the experts, I thought I'd ask y'all if you've noticed a particularly bad spot that really needs to be marked. I'll happily relay your concerns.

Mary is the grandmother of a new driver and she needs those lines herself to see, especially when it's getting dark. I just plain old like for everyone else to know where their lanes are -- and to stay in them, please!

Yo, greasers!

Looking for a fun night out? Grab your bubble gum and bobby sox and head to Huntley, where it's flashback to the Fifties when Huntley High School presents "Grease!" the next two weekends.

Tickets are $6 for students and $8 for adults. Kim Skaja tells me performances are at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays at the Huntley High School Performing Arts Center, 13719 Harmony Road.

They're featuring a special rock 'n' roll dinner theater after the Sunday, April 20 performance. Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for those 65 and older, and $20 for children, 12 and under. Call Carolyn at (815) 923-1214 by Thursday for the dinner theater.

For play tickets only, call (847) 659-6515. You'll also be able to buy raffle tickets at each performance for all kinds of prizes including tickets to Jersey Boys. Doo-wop, baby!