Extend ‘el’ all the way to Huntley

In response to the proposed tollway increases, I would like to know:

If the increases are to rebuild the tollway, why are we repaving the tollway now; why not wait until you rebuild?

The large signs at the beginning of the current construction areas state that we are rebuilding 50-year-old pavement! Really? Fifty years ago, that pavement wasn’t three or four lanes in each direction, and certainly not all the way to Route 47. The pavement has been repaved and lanes widened several times in the nine years I have lived in this area. How many times do we have to waste money on this type of repair?

Let me make the following suggestion:

Quit widening the road to accommodate more and more motor vehicles. Instead, extend the “el” out to Route 47 from Cumberland right down the middle of the tollway.

Create parking areas and station stops at Route 47, Randall Road, Route 59, Barrington Road and Route 53 as well as Arlington Heights Road.

Move the bus transportation depot from the area between Mall Drive and Route 72 to Route 53 and have buses available to transport riders to various shopping and business developments. Remember the people movers that were planned way back when?

There are so many people working in the Schaumburg area and areas along the tollway that have no access to quick, convenient transportation. If the “el” was extended, perhaps more businesses would decide to develop in the far Northwest suburbs because it would be more convenient for employees to get to and from work. Yes, I know we have Metra, but those lines do not do a good job of getting people to the Golden Corridor along the tollway where so many businesses are.

Sharon Kelch

Algonquin