(Chicago)…
The Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) is supportive of the
Illinois
Tollway’s
“Tomorrow’s Transportation Today” program, announced on Wednesday by Gov. Rod
Blagojevich. The program will fund the construction of interchanges and create
80 miles of dedicated “green lanes” on
Illinois
toll roads.
“Gridlock is
affecting our entire region’s transportation network:
metropolitan
Chicago alone loses
more than $7.3 billion a year and 87,000 jobs due to traffic congestion,” said
MPC
President MarySue
Barrett.
“
Places that
are successfully fighting traffic have one thing in common: they’re trying new,
cost-effective approaches to give people better options for getting around.
“Gov. Blagojevich and the
Illinois
Tollway are to be commended for making a strategic investment that will improve
the flow of traffic, spur economic development, and reduce emissions. Through
green lanes, expanded public transportation, and innovative pricing strategies,
Tomorrow’s Transportation Today maximizes the use of our current infrastructure
and provides people with more transportation choices,” Barrett added.
For more information,
contact MPC Asst. Communications Director
Mandy
Burrell
Booth, at 312-863-6018, or
mburrell@metroplanning.org
;
or MPC Vice President of External Relations
Peter
Skosey
, at 312-863-6004, or
pskosey@metroplanning.org
.
Founded in 1934, the Metropolitan Planning Council
(MPC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of business and civic leaders committed
to serving the public interest through development, promotion and implementation
of sound planning policies so all residents have access to opportunity and a
good quality of life, the building blocks of a globally competitive greater
Chicago region.