Build 53 Now! -- Here's the Latest News

Route 53 is often in the news! We're trying to keep track. If you come across 53 news, please e-mail it to us at info@absillinois.com or fax it to 847-680-6341. Thanks!

8/18/02 - Daily Herald Letters to the Editor

Varying Tolls Proposed for Route 53 Financing

Though the suburbs and collar counties of Chicago are well-known as the land of wide-open spaces, most suburbanites spend more time in traffic than they do enjoying the suburban life. Traffic congestion is the bane of city dwellers and a major promoter of sprawl, as people avoid congestion by moving farther and farther from the cities.

Yet construction of new highway capacity is both expensive and politically unpopular. Highway opponents such as the Environmental Law and Policy Center and Center for Neighborhood Technology argue that "we can't build our way out of congestion" because the roads become congested almost as soon as they are opened. Instead, they want to spend gas taxes and other highway dollars on light rail and other expensive transit projects that hardly anyone will use.

The Lake County Transportation Improvement Project and our group's recommendation to build Route 53 has such a dramatic, positive impact on alleviating gridlock on our Lake County roads, the question now must turn to funding Route 53. The voters of Lake County, from our survey, favor tolls over all other methods of financing the project.

I would like to suggest there is more to it than just fairness in using tolls for building and maintaining major roadways in our transportation system; tolls also can provide an effective mechanism for managing traffic on all tollways.

The real problem with tollways is that they are heavily used a few hours of the day and only lightly used at other times. It is far more expensive to build a tollway system that accommodates rush-hour traffic than to build one sufficient for average traffic volumes. It is this peak-hour expense that makes highway construction look like a black hole sucking up endless amounts of money.

The solution to rush-hour congestion and the gridlock on our Lake County roads is to learn from other businesses that have peaks and troughs in their demand.

Hotels and airlines charge more during holidays than during off-season periods. Most long-distance telephone companies charge more during business hours than during evenings and weekends. Even some electricity providers charge more during daytime than at night.

Such "congestion pricing" helps to moderate peak demands. Since it costs more to build peak capacity than average capacity, congestion pricing also ensures that people get what they pay for and that those who don't use the system at peak times aren't subsidizing those who do.

Two successful new highways in California use congestion pricing. During rush hour, motorists pay up to $3 to use the roads, but tolls fall to as little as 25 cents or even zero during non-rush-hour periods. Car pools are encouraged by letting cars with three or more people use the roads at no charge.

The roads are paid for entirely out of the congestion tolls. Motorists who use them say they save 20 to 40 minutes per trip compared to nearby highways. This is how we need to pay for Route 53 and all new major roads in Illinois.

Congestion pricing can have a huge effect on rush-hour traffic because nearly half the traffic during morning rush hours and more than half in afternoon rush hours is not commuter traffic. Congestion pricing will encourage many of the non-commuters to drive at other times of the day, thus reducing both peak demands and the cost of providing the highway system.

In today's electronic age, congestion pricing does not have to mean a tollbooth. Instead, motorists get an I-PASS transponder - a box that is little bigger than a credit card - that electronically records their highway usage. Today, about 25 percent of Illinois tollway drivers use I-PASS. Congestion pricing is the best way to build Route 53 to minimize traffic congestion and maintain the livability and quality of our suburban life.

Jack L. Martin
Chairman
Citizens to Protect Quality Of Life Through Better Transportation
Libertyville

Our comment: Why not? It's an alternative worth considering.

5/31/02 - Illinois House of Representatives

HR0997 Introduced In Favor of 53 Extension

A bill recommending the 53 extension has been introduced to the Illinois House of Representatives by Rep. Mathias, also sponsored by Reps. Bassi, Beaubien, and Osmond. Here is the complete text:


 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS,  Lake  County  has  an  abundance   of   vibrant
 3    communities,  growing  employment centers, natural resources,
 4    and traffic congestion; and

 5        WHEREAS, According to the 2000  census,  the  county  has
 6    grown  to  over  640,000  residents,  already  surpassing the
 7    population forecasted for the year 2010; and

 8        WHEREAS, The county's rapid development has outpaced  its
 9    transportation  infrastructure,  making congestion relief the
10    top priority of residents,  community  leaders,  and  elected
11    officials; and

12        WHEREAS,  The  Illinois  Department of Transportation and
13    the Illinois State Toll Highway  Authority  formed  the  Lake
14    County  Transportation  Improvement  Project in the spring of
15    1998 to identify the major congestion problems and  recommend
16    a package of improvements; and

17        WHEREAS,   The  Lake  County  Transportation  Improvement
18    Project released an Environmental Impact Statement last  year
19    concluding  that  extending Route 53 into central Lake County
20    is the most effective, cheapest, safest, and cleanest way  to
21    improve Lake County's traffic congestion; therefore, be it

22        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
23    NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
24    we recommend that the Illinois State Toll  Highway  Authority
25    extend  Route  53 north from Lake Cook Road to Route 120; and
26    be it further

27        RESOLVED, That suitable  copies  of  this  resolution  be
28    presented  to  the  Secretary  of  Transportation  and to the
29    Chairman of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Be sure to write your own representative in favor of this bill! To track the bill's status, link to http://www.legis.state.il.us/scripts/imstran.exe?LIBSINCWHR0997.

3/20/02 - Chicago Tribune

Lake County Primaries Viewed As 'Referendum' On Traffic Congestion

In its report on Tuesday's primary election, the Chicago Tribune wrote the following on Lake County:

In what was viewed as a referendum on Lake County's jammed roads, two County Board candidates who favor better highways led Tuesday's primary over two Republican incumbents known for their pro-environment views.

In unofficial results, businessman Randall Whitmore of Wadsworth, who favors extending Illinois Highway 53, was ahead of incumbent Loretta McCarley in the District 2 GOP race.

With all the votes counted, Whitmore led McCarley of Beach Park, 56 percent to 44 percent.

"Lake County voters are frustrated with the taxes and roads," Whitmore said Tuesday night. "County spending has gone up, and our roads are just clogged."

Another incumbent, Larry Leafblad of Grayslake, an open-space supporter, was trailing Avon Township Trustee Don Bauer by 17 votes. Bauer broadcast his support for the Illinois 53 extension, which Leafblad has opposed for years.

Our comment: Elected officials should represent the people, and the people support 53 overwhelmingly. (Want to see the statistics? Click here.) A sincere THANK YOU to all the concerned citizens who went to the polls last Tuesday to make their voices heard. Hopefully, our elected representatives will get the message!

3/18/02 - Crain's Chicago Business

Crain's Reports Strong Majority for 53, Tolerance for Toll Hike

Toll hike tolerable
Poll finds motorists would pay for repairs
by Amanda L. Milligan

Illinois motorists are willing to drop more change at the toll booth if the funds go for needed road repairs and improvements. They would even fork over more to help pay for the controversial extensions of two major roads, according to an online poll conducted by Crain's.

Seventy percent of poll respondents say that both Interstate 355 in Will County and Route 53 in Lake County should be extended.

Raising tolls - if the additional money is earmarked for road repairs and the extensions - is supported by 46% of survey respondents. A toll hike with funds being used only for maintenance of existing roads is acceptable to 38%. And a third of respondents say they don't endorse a fare hike for any reason.

The unscientific poll, which ran last week on ChicagoBusiness.com, Crain's Web site, tallied 1,006 responses. The poll follows Crain's March 11 examination of the financial shortfall at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and the agency's inability to repair its aging roads and make modest improvements.

Tollway Executive Director Thomas Cuculich says he's encouraged that so many respondents would pay more to have the extensions built, adding that the number would be higher "if they knew the alternative." The only way to pay for road upkeep and construction is a hefty hike on gasoline, he says.

More than half of respondents - 54% - don't support abolishing Illinois tolls and replacing the revenues by raising or imposing other fees and taxes.

The Illinois tollway system's crumbling roads, traffic snarls and toll plaza congestion are not going unnoticed. Nearly three-fourths of respondents say they've noticed the tollway's deteriorating road conditions, and a whopping 90% agree that the state's toll roads are more crowded than ever.

The Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) and the Northwest Tollway (Interstate 90) were cited by 26% and 23% of respondents, respectively, as having the most serious problems.

And these people should know: Forty-three percent of respondents say they drive the tollway system daily, and another 35% weekly. For 39%, the increasingly crowded thoroughfares and poor road conditions are causing travel tie-ups of 15 to 30 minutes daily.

Respondents aren't so sure that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is smart about how it allocates funds. When asked whether the agency should have its budget approved every year by the General Assembly or remain independent, 53% say that lawmakers should have the final say about spending.

Mr. Cuculich pointed out that the agency is already accountable to the state, which audits its financial statements.

© 2002 by Crain Communications Inc.

3/14/02 - Press Release from Citizens to Protect Quality of Life Through Better Transportation

Five of the Six Major Candidates for Governor Support Extension of Route 53

For Immediate Release
For more information please contact Dan Friedlander at 847/855-6444

Five of the six major candidates for governor of Illinois support the extension of Route 53 into Lake County, reports Citizens to Protect Quality of Life Through Better Transportation.

One candidate, Roland Burris, has failed to respond to a questionnaire sent to his office concerning the expressway. The candidates who responded join some 60 municipalities, more than a dozen chambers of commerce and many other organizations in support of the road.

All of the candidates noted there is a "budgetary crisis" in state government and said they are not sure of when to fund it, but all said they are aware of the need for the expressway.

Lt. Gov. Corrine Wood in stating her support also wrote that she appreciates the "insights" of the Citizens organization "to the unique transportation needs of this region and applaud your efforts to improve the transportation systems." She added that, "Lake County is suffering from transportation, housing, infrastructure and health care shortages."

Ryan stated "I recognize the importance of the Route 53 expansion to Northern Illinois and support the project." Sen. Patrick J. O'Malley writes: "The extension of 53 into Lake County is the right thing to do. Thirty-plus years of delaying this project has adversely impacted the quality of life and diminished economic opportunities for this region of Illinois."

Paul Vallas said he would work toward the successful funding of Route 53. This may include restructuring the tollway system and placing it under the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Rod Blagojevich said that the road needs to be built.

Dan Friedlander, executive director of the Citizens organization, said just about everybody except for a few well financed people with the ability to finance themselves, nearly every person in an elected office knows the importance, advantages, including environment, and lower road compared with alternatives.
#

2/14/02 - Press Release from Citizens to Protect Quality of Life Through Better Transportation

Four More Chambers of Commerce Endorse Extension of Route 53

For Immediate Release
For more information please contact Dan Friedlander at 847/855-6444

Four more chambers of commerce have endorsed the extension now of Route 53 into Lake County.

The four chambers are the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce, the Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein, Vernon Hills Chamber of Commerce, Lake County Chamber of Commerce and the Zion Chamber of Commerce. The GLMV chamber is the largest one in Lake County with nearly 800 members.

These four endorsements follow many other recent endorsements made by business and other organizations, such as the Lake County Partners, and the TMA of Lake-Cook. Many other chambers and government organizations, such as the Cook County Board, previously endorsed the expansion.

The information about these and many other endorsements was complied by Citizens to Protect Quality of Life Through Better Transportation, Libertyville.

In addition, municipalities within the study area of the Lake County Traffic Improvement Project, either directly or through their professional organizations totaling 750,000 population have endorsed Route 53 while only two communities totaling 12,000 people are against the roadway, according to the Citizens group.

In making their endorsements, the chambers asked for immediate favorable action in building the roadway. They stated that population growth makes 53 essential noting that otherwise we face a road transportation crisis.

They wrote that Route 53 is the most economical, that because it is a new roadway it can be built to minimize the impact of road construction and that reconstruction of existing roads poses a significant cost to local businesses as well as being inconvenient and hazardous to the motoring public.

The chamber resolutions note the present transportation system was designed for a rural county with minimal appreciable improvements since 1912. They also point out that years of study have shown the need for the road.

The chambers represent the interest of business and the communities they serve. The costs of doing business in Lake County is accelerating because of traffic gridlock and that Illinois faces a loss of businesses and customers for those who remain because of the traffic problem, according to the Citizens group. Additionally, far fewer businesses, homes and other structures will be destroyed when Route 53 is built compared with all other alternatives.

One endorsement includes the following that sums up many of the arguments for Route 53: "The insufficient road system of Lake County depresses economic growth and the creation of new jobs in Lake County by discouraging new business location or expansions."

Gridlock, expected to become worse without the construction of Route 53, is adversely affecting quality of life, costs of driving and car maintenance and increasing road rage. Family life is affected by all of the wasted time spent on the road, said the Citizens organization.

The group urged citizens to call or write their state officials, including the governor, representatives, senators and Kirk Brown of the Illinois Department of Transportation to show their support for the roadway.

The Citizens organization, which is looking at rail, bus, car and other alternatives, to eliminate gridlock and a falling quality of life, is at P.O. Box 7529, Libertyville, 60048.
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1/24/02 - Chicago Tribune

Editorial by Infrastructure Expert Backs Roadbuilding in Suburbs

In an article entitled "Dave's Top 10 list on traffic congestion," the director of the Infrastructure Technology Institute at Northwestern University, David F. Schulz, comes out strongly in favor of building more roads in developing suburbs, and debunks the myth that to do so would only cause "sprawl."

Schulz lists ten points to attack congestion.

Point 3 says, "Build a lot more roads Environmentalists and others argue more roads will just cause more sprawl and "you can't build your way out of congestion." But in fact, this region is the "lab rat" for the experiment of what happens if you don't build enough roads in developing suburbs. Far from motivating people to move back to the city, or keeping them there if they haven't moved out, the result is people have moved even farther out. Lake County grew 25 percent in the '90s, McHenry 42 percent, Kane 27 percent, DuPage 16 percent and Will 41 percent while Cook County grew only 5 percent. We're really controlling sprawl by not building roads, aren't we. Clearly there is a need for a massive infusion of funds to build new roads and expand existing ones beyond Illinois FIRST.

6/20/01 - Daily Herald

Toll chief says he backs extension of Route 53

Supporters of an Illinois 53 extension to relieve traffic problems in Lake County received a boost Thursday from the head of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority.

Art Philip

Sidney Mathias

But Art Philip, chairman of the tollway board, also emphasized the agency does not have the power to decide which new tollways are constructed and that funding the extension will be a tough issue.

"We're committed," Philip told a trio of Route 53 extension backers, including Rep. Sidney Mathias, whose 51 District stretches from Buffalo Grove west to Barrington and from Hoffman Estates north to Vernon Hills.

"We think at this time, it's the only wayto solve the transportation problems in Lake County."

Mathias was accompanied by Libertyville businessman Jack Martin and Buffalo Grove village trustee Jeffrey Berman, board members of the Citizens to Protect Quality of Life Through Better Transportation, organized in 1999 to find solutions to traffic problems.

The group has been pushing for the 53 extension as the fastest and least disruptive solution and had asked to address the tollway authority board to provide information and present its stand on the issue.

Nothing new was presented Thursday, although backers reiterated the results ofa study released in March showing support for the extension from two-thirds of 1,200 voterssurveyed as well as dozens of communities.