Big disappointment at tollway meeting

Big disappointment at tollway meeting

At the urging of the Daily Herald editorial staff, my husband and I attended Thursday’s Tollway Authority meeting in Wheaton. I was hoping to hear some good, open discussion on the toll road’s $12 billion construction proposal. Boy, was I wrong.

The majority of speakers were union reps or company owners who would benefit directly from a $12 billion project. New jobs are great, but these jobs are coming at a high price — toll users will pay hundreds of dollars more in a year’s time. Only two audience members spoke about the high cost of this proposal.

I was not convinced the tollway board and new director are doing all they can to make sure expenses are as low as they can be. The new director touted new reforms instituted in the past year. With all the prior ethics allegations, I-PASS fiascoes, exorbitant spending, patronage hirings, and no-bid contracts of the past, can we really believe all has been cleaned up in one year?

Do we want to trust this organization with another $12 billion? One speaker brought up the fact that the state seems to have plenty of money to build downstate roads, but when it comes to new roads in the Chicago suburbs they want the Tollway Authority to build them. Why are the suburbs stuck with all the extra costs?

As union reps and contractors rehashed the need for these projects, I couldn’t help but think tollway board members were simply going through the motions. It appears their minds are made up. State and local government representatives couldn’t stop touting the benefits of this plan. But if it’s so beneficial, why aren’t the governments being asked to help with the costs? It is simply easier to pass the cost onto the toll users.

Chris Frantzen

Naperville