Editorial: Tollway needs more notice, transparency with Route 53 forums

Eight weeks ago, we took tollway officials to task for their approach to seeking consensus for the long-debated proposal to extend Route 53 into Lake County. Yet, a meeting held last week with little public notice and tech issues that hampered communication has only increased frustration among some local leaders.

Broad support for the Route 53 project has long been the goal. Earlier this year, the Illinois Toll Highway Authority rebranded the effort as the Tri-County Access Project, drew in neighboring counties and increased the number of "stakeholders" to 145.

Last week, the group gathered once again.

Though stakeholders were notified by email, public notice went out only 48 hours before the Aug. 30 meeting in Crystal Lake. And it was posted on a rather obscure part of the Tri-County Access Project website.

Furthermore, some suburban leaders expressed concern about the high-tech communication system used at the meeting, Tollway consultants provided information and stakeholders used a cellphone app to type in questions. Hawthorn Woods Mayor Joseph Mancino, however, described the system as "unstable" and said it prevented a healthy exchange by limiting responses and allowing participants to vote questions projected on a screen up or down.

Tollway officials vow to fix issues before the next meeting. That will help. All efforts must be made to encourage input and make asking questions - and getting answers - easier.

Tollway officials had earlier asked participants in the project to sign a document to "agree to act as a team" and "reach a collective understanding," a move that seemed designed to diminish dissent.

Tollway Executive Director Liz Gorman has expressed the desire to "encourage an open and healthy discussion among community members." That's essential, especially with an issue as thorny as Route 53.

The history of the proposal goes back a half century, and debate continues to rage between those who argue the extension is needed to ease traffic congestion and those who fear its environmental repercussions. Thus, the tollway faces incredible challenges.

At the same time, tollway officials have started looking into policies regarding procurement processes and hiring, with a pledge to improve transparency. We urge them to keep working toward that goal - and broaden it.