Tollway board pressured to build or not build Route 53 extension
With $5.8 million for planning studies in the Illinois tollway's proposed 2016 budget that could be used to analyze the Route 53 extension, advocates for both sides of the issue bent the tollway board's ear Thursday.
The tollway has been mulling over whether to adopt the project, which would push Route 53 north to Route 120, since 2011. A vote by directors is expected soon on whether to approve a costly environmental impact study that would signal momentum for the expansion.
Hawthorn Woods resident Vanessa Griffin said the road would ruin a "beautiful, calm, quiet, nature-soaked community. Don't spend any more tax dollars on this proposal that has failed time and again," she said.
Lake Forest resident Mary Mathews said the project lacked funding and a regional consensus. She decried "political gimmicks used to push government projects."
Others defended the road, saying it would reduce congestion, air pollution and commuting time in Lake County plus bring jobs and development to the region.
"Thousands upon thousands of cars traverse Lake-Cook Road each day getting to and from Route 53, I-294 and other destinations in Lake County and beyond," Buffalo Grove Trustee Jeffrey Berman said. "Regional congestion is near intolerable levels."
The design is for a 45 mph parkway with environmental features aimed at not harming wetlands and prairie along the route. The tollway would also improve Route 120 west to Route 12 and east to I-294 if it undertakes the project.
But how to overcome a funding gap of nearly $2 billion - even with tolls of about 20 cents a mile - remains a significant hurdle.
Funding ideas for Lake County include a gas tax and increasing tolls.
Tollway Chairman Robert Schillerstrom expects the board will hold a separate vote on the environmental impact study, independent of a decision on the 2016 budget. The budget vote is slated for December.
"The issue is will the tollway board move forward with an EIS ... and to do that, there has to be a vote and there has to be money in the budget," Schillerstrom said.