New map enlarges parkway corridor

More property owners along the proposed Prairie Parkway learned this week that their land is included in the Illinois Department of Transportation's revised corridor protection map.

The map is established to stave off development in the area where the road will be built. That means owners of properties within the established corridor must notify IDOT before making improvements. IDOT officials revised the map after finalizing the highway's route in June.

A total of 224 properties are included in the revised map, up from 191 in the former map. The new map includes 127 properties that weren't in the old map; 97 properties were in both maps. Ninety-four properties from the original map, approved in 2002, were dropped from the revised plan, according to IDOT engineer Rick Powell.

IDOT has "freed a number of property owners from development restrictions -- that's a good thing -- but placed restrictions on a whole new group of owners for an unlimited period of time," said Jan Strasma, chairman of Citizens Against the Sprawlway, a grassroots group that opposes the project. "The Prairie Parkway may never be built, but the restrictions live on indefinitely."

Strasma believes it's unlikely the road project will garner any more federal funding because of the retirement of its most powerful proponent, former House Speaker Dennis Hastert.

The next step in IDOT's process is developing the final environmental impact statement and design report. The record of decision, which is the federal authorization to proceed with the project, is expected later this year or in early 2008. Land acquisition could start in 2008, and construction could begin as soon as 2009. The highway would run west of Route 47, linking the Reagan Tollway near Kaneville with I-80 near Minooka.

View the map online at www.prairie-parkway.com.

Foster on TV: Congressional candidate Bill Foster this week became the first of the Democrats to release a TV commercial in the 14th Congressional District race. The ad, which began running Wednesday on cable systems throughout the district, touted Foster's background in science and business and cast him as a change agent. The 60-second spot begins with a close-up of Foster introducing himself.

"Year after year, the same people run for office, and nothing changes in Washington," he says. "I'm Bill Foster, and as a scientist and businessman, I want to stop the political bickering and start solving problems."

As the richest of the four Democratic candidates, Foster has the most money to spend on pricey TV ads. On the GOP side, Oberweis and Burns have both begun airing commercials.

View Foster's commercial at www.foster08.com.

'Tis the season: Monday begins a two-week competition among Kane County employees to see which department gives the most to the Northern Illinois Food Bank of St. Charles. The winning department, as determined by the number of donations per employee, earns a pizza party. Workers also can donate cash. The holiday food drive is the first in what officials hope will be an annual event.