Elgin's OK with lack of closure on expressway

Much to cover this week but I'd like to start with what I call the forgotten part of the Elgin O'Hare Expressway.

That would be Elgin.

Last month, the state finally narrowed down options to locate a western bypass around O'Hare International Airport that links with I-90 to the north and I-294 to the south. The bypass also would connect with the expressway. Not only that, but longtime airport expansion foe Elk Grove Village reversed its position, pulling the plug on lawsuits.

What does this all mean?

Extending the Elgin-O'Hare east so it actually goes to the airport is closer to reality than it's ever been.

Right now, the expressway belies its name. You get on hoping to catch a plane or reach Elgin and you end up cruising between Itasca and Hanover Park. Locals jokingly call it the IHOP Expressway, Hanover Park Mayor Rod Craig told me.

But if the O'Hare segment is gaining momentum, what about the Elgin part? Is it the Illinois Department of Transportation's redheaded stepchild?

Elgin Mayor Ed Schock gave me a reality check.

"In all honesty, it's a prudent decision," he said. "The most important leg is the leg (of the expressway) that connects to O'Hare."

Building the expressway into the airport triggers bypass construction and jump-starts anticipated economic development along the corridor, proponents say.

Right now, the Elgin part of the equation is some years away but the city can make do with Route 20 acting as an interim solution, Schock said.

"I would like to see it all done, but the leg into O'Hare is the most important and allows for proper functioning of the Elgin O'Hare," he explained. "I'm for one step at a time."

Flotsam and jetsam

• On the Metra track. At a Metra meeting Friday, state Rep. Luis Arroyo made a guest appearance. The Chicago Democrat and Metra directors cordially lobbied each other about priorities. Metra officials pointed out they want the General Assembly to pass a significant capital budget. Arroyo informed them he's pushing Cook County Board President Tod Stroger to name a Latino board member to replace Director Lonnie Hill, who died in February.

Also, Metra directors voted to spend $1.6 million to beef up their Web site, which hasn't had a makeover since 1995. Agency spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said one goal of the improvements is to allow Metra to communicate quickly with riders during an emergency by posting information in a prominent place on the home page.

• Bulls drive to the I-PASS lane. As a transportation nerd, I took notice Thursday night during the Bulls-Celtics game when color commentator Stacey King remarked on a huge basket by guard John Salmons saying, "Salmons is like I-PASS baby, you've gotta pay your fare!" I think the tollway has found its new ad campaign.

• There's a report out on how the U.S. government is funding public transit and it's not good. A study by the Federal Transit Administration released last week found 33 percent of the trains, buses and stations in the nation's largest rail transit systems are outdated and inadequate. Expect legislators like Sen. Dick Durbin, who asked for the study, to be use the findings to push for more mass transit dollars. Congress is gearing up for a big fight when the surface transportation bill expires this fall. With the FTA report stating that older rail systems are underfunded by about $6 billion, this will offer ammunition in the ongoing highways versus buses battle.

Incoming

• Watch out for overnight lane closures on bridges along several expressways as IDOT paints its bridges. The work will last through Oct. 31. Locations are: the Eisenhower Expressway at Cicero Avenue; the westbound Dan Ryan Expressway at Taylor Street; the Kennedy Expressway at Montrose and Milwaukee avenues; and the Edens Expressway at Oakton Street, Gross Point Road and Montrose.

• For those heading to Wisconsin this summer, work on the Cherry Valley interchange near Rockford continues until the end of construction season. However, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority Friday opened a two-lane flyover ramp from northbound I-39 to westbound I-90.

• Train-heads rejoice. It's National Train Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Union Station in Chicago, organized by Amtrak. Events include train displays, rail exhibits, travel information, activities for kids, model trains and entertainment including blues star Shemekia Copeland.