Talking Kane traffic solutions

Getting around Kane County will only get harder as the population continues to grow, and candidates for the Kane County Board chairman seat have their own ideas about how to solve traffic gridlock.

Two changes motorists will see in the coming years are the Stearns Road Corridor and the Longmeadow Parkway. The Stearns Road project is expected to alleviate congestion by creating another Fox River crossing between Route 64 and Route 20. Both incumbent Karen McConnaughay and challenger Sandy Kaczmarski are fans of the project.

A mix of local and federal funds will pay for the Stearns Road Corridor. That's part of why Kaczmarski thinks she's the best candidate. She believes that in a Democratic state, with a Democratic U.S. Congress, her Democratic identity will be a huge asset in luring money back to Kane County now that Dennis Hastert is gone.

"You can't just have all the transportation expenses fall on the shoulders of local government," Kaczmarski said. "I would think a lot of people would be inclined to say if this is the way the tide is turning, a Democrat would be a better option."

McConnaughay said her track record shows she can work with lawmakers to bring back millions of dollars to the county. When even that comes up short, she can work with other local governments to come up with the necessary cash.

She pointed to the partnership among Kane and McHenry counties and the village of Huntley for work on the interchange at Route 47 and I-90. Those improvements will relieve congestion, bring 10,000 new jobs to the area and pump millions of dollars into the local economy, she said.

In terms of funding the Longmeadow Parkway, the county is considering its first use of a toll bridge.

McConnaughay said a toll should be considered, but she hasn't decided if it's the right fit yet. State law requires any toll created to eventually vanish when the bridge is paid for. McConnaughay said toll bridges are different from toll roads, and she would not support a law change to keep a permanent toll on the Longmeadow Parkway.

Kaczmarski said she'd be very reluctant to see a toll placed on the Longmeadow Parkway, but acknowledged it may be a necessary revenue source. She fears that once it's in place, nothing will ever remove it.

"It's nice to think it's going away, but I don't think it will," she said. "And I would hate to say yes, we're going to remove the toll, and then five years down the road we find that that's not feasible."

Both candidates said the time is nearing when a public transportation system will actually see the ridership to keep it in existence and growing.

McConnaughay said the future is a full grid system that connects the suburban communities together with buses and trains. Right now, Metra in Kane County is just a way to get to and from downtown Chicago, she said. But eventually lines out past Elburn and out to Rockford will be a reality Kane County should help push for.

Kaczmarski said buses are needed right now to connect all the main arterial roads in the county. The obstacle is getting people to those main arteries. Expanded bike paths and walkable routes to the main roads are potential solutions to the problem.