Name change for Route 20 through Elgin?

Route 20 through Elgin soon could have a new name.

Lawmakers in Springfield will consider today and likely will OK renaming the road "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Highway" after the civil rights pioneer.

The move comes as the King holiday nears next week and will be the final act downstate by State Rep. Ruth Munson, who lost a re-election bid last fall.

Munson, an Elgin Republican and former city council member, said the city's Human Relations Commission asked her last spring to propose that Route 20 be renamed.

"It goes all the way through the city. It made sense," she said.

If approved by lawmakers, the Illinois Department of Transportation will erect "MLK Memorial Highway" signs along Route 20 in the corporate limits of Elgin. IDOT spokeswoman Marissa Kollias said the switchover can take anywhere from a few days to a few months.

Last year, city activist Ina Dews suggested the city rename a new or existing road after King.

City Manager Femi Folarin said one reason the Route 20 was chosen was to avoid forcing folks to change business cards and letterhead.

Years ago, some businesses complained when lawmakers discussed naming State Route 34 after the late Chicago Bears great Walter Payton, but unlike Route 20 through Elgin, there are hundreds of businesses along Route 34.

"You will not inconvenience residents and businesses to have them change their address (on business cards and letter heads)," Folarin said.

Mayor Ed Schock also said Route 20 made sense. "I think it would be a good choice, It's a prominent road instead of a little road," he said.