MPC's South Suburban Coordinator Kristi DeLaurentiis comments on the need for regional transportation decision makers to work cooperatively to ensure that the I-355 extension is done right.
Gov. Rod Blagojevich's unexpected tollway announcement last week sent hopes
soaring for many that the southern extension of Interstate 355 would be more
than just a longed-for dream. His 10-year, $5 billion-plus vision for the future
of Illinois' tollways, called for "the creation of a new tollway system for the
21st Century so that commuters can get where they're going faster and easier."
Southwest suburban and Will County elected officials are thrilled because the
plan includes the long sought-after 12.5-mile southern extension of I-355 from
Woodridge to New Lenox.
Stalled for years by opponents and funding setbacks, the I-355
extension has embodied the collective will of area mayors and business leaders.
Deemed critical to the south region's vitality and prosperity, supporters have
made every effort to keep the roadway on our state leaders' radar screens.
Citing Will County's growth — one of the fastest in the country — as a reason to
add to the existing network of highways, area officials have consistently urged
this transportation improvement be a priority for the state, always working
together to that end. And with the governor's support jump starting plans for
construction, I-355 south moves closer to becoming a reality. Those advocacy
efforts I'll call "Phase I." What area leaders need to do now is work
cooperatively to ensure sustainable development occurs alongside the
transportation improvement. That's what we residents in this part of the region
really want and need. Call that "Phase II."
The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), a non-profit, nonpartisan group of
business and civic leaders, agrees additional infrastructure investment is
needed in this corridor. As an advocacy organization committed to sensible
regional planning and development policies, MPC believes our transportation
infrastructure projects must do more than just "move people and goods."
This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do it right. Extending
I-355 into Will County should not only improve access to jobs in other counties,
but also be an opportunity to spur economic development within the region. Who
among us would want the I-355 extension just to export workers to O'Hare and
beyond? Area mayors, with a history of working together, should insist that the
project is designed using the best practices from around the nation, creating a
transportation corridor that preserves our beautiful natural areas where
appropriate and clusters development in new, accessible centers.
Let's not forget that many communities within the I-355 corridor have already
reinvested in their historic downtowns, are creating "town centers" or have
undertaken redevelopment around area transit stations. Let's build on these
assets to achieve attractive, balanced growth. Let's reinvest in existing
communities as we capitalize on the opportunity for new job centers and possible
interchanges. Let's continue to work together on "Phase II" as diligently as we
did on "Phase I." Let's keep our eye on the prize: healthy communities,
connectivity to the rest of the region and opportunities to spur economic
development in underserved areas.
The fastest road may not be the best road to support economic development.
Instead of the formulaic tollway segment that moves people from point A to point
B, imagine a new limited-access corridor that anchors places people want to go —
in new neighborhoods that combine work, shelter and play. This requires breaking
the mold. Intergovernmental agreements could map out appropriate land uses along
the broad corridor that balance economic development and environmental goals.
And the corridor could be planned to allow for future transit service. Rather
than create an eyesore for the future, hidden behind barricades that attempt to
contain pollution and noise, this region deserves a state-of-the-art
infrastructure that makes the rest of the Chicago area green with envy.
This article was published in
the Star newspapers and Joliet Herald News. Kristi DeLaurentiis is south suburban coordinator for the Metropolitan
Planning Council and a resident of Frankfort.