Jim LaBelle, deputy director, Chicago Metropolis 2020 presented testimony on behalf of Business Leaders for Transportation at the Sept. 21, 2004 Toll Authority hearing in Lake County.
By Guest Author- September 21, 2004
Chairman John Mitola
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
2700 Ogden Avenue
Downers Grove , Illinois 60515
Dear Chairman Mitola,
Our three organizations – Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Metropolis 2020, Metropolitan Planning Council – co-lead a coalition of regional employers called Business Leaders for Transportation. This coalition is a leading voice for business on surface transportation issues.
We support the Tollway’s Long-Range Plan: Open Roads for a Faster Future. It provides needed funding to repair and rebuild much of the system and add capacity where it is needed. It expands I-PASS with barrier-free technology to fight congestion. It takes a first step toward implementation of variable pricing, and states the intent to coordinate land use decisions with transportation planning. With the northeastern Illinois region continually ranking third in the nation in congestion, we applaud the Tollway for developing a plan with innovative solutions to address the gridlock our region is experiencing.
We provide the following comments for your consideration as you move forward.
- Implement a congestion pricing plan that is fair and equitable to all vehicle types and users of the Tollway system.
- Work with other regional agencies to develop a multi-modal plan, incorporating more transit opportunities along Tollway rights-of-way. Your plan to include a transit extension in the I-90 corridor is a good start.
- Clearly define the O’Hare Bypass as a priority project, working with the City of Chicago , DuPage County , IDOT and our Congressional delegation to fund the project.
- Implement I-355 South as a model for integrating land use and transportation planning. We encourage you to follow through on your commitment to work with Corridor Councils to develop Context Sensitive Solutions to ensure this does more than provide a transportation route, but balances jobs and housing in the corridor, protects open space, and strengthens existing community centers.
- We need to create a single, streamlined regional development and transportation planning agency. It is important to connect the Tollway plan with other regional growth and transportation plans.
Business Leaders for Transportation compliments the Tollway on this bold plan to address congestion in the region and fully supports the Tollway in this effort.
Sincerely,
MarySue Barrett, president, Metropolitan Planning Council
George A Ranney, Jr., president & CEO, Chicago Metropolis 2020
Gerald Roper, president & CEO, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce