Aurora Beacon-News
April 10, 2007
The folks who oppose the Prairie
Parkway hope two non-binding resolutions on the April 17 ballot will be
heard by state and national legislators who control the funding for the
proposed 12-mile highway.
Referendums will be on the ballot in Kaneville Township, the proposed
starting point, and Big Rock Township, which would be cut in half by
the billion-dollar highway, asking voters if they support the parkway
going through their township.
The highway has been a heated topic for five years, since the Illinois
Department of Transportation suggested connecting Interstate 88 in Kane
County with Interstate 80 in Grundy County.
Advocates say the highway would relieve congestion and draw revenue to
proposed intersections. Detractors say the highway would steal the
quiet, rural atmosphere by encouraging urban sprawl. They prefer local
roads be improved.
Although the Illinois Department of Transportation stopped accepting
public comment on the issue in February, Jan Strasma, president of
Citizens Against the Sprawlway, expects a large "no" turnout.
"This will be one more piece of ammunition to use in not just stopping
the Prairie Parkway but diverting the funds to other road
improvements," Strasma said.
"The Prairie Parkway now will be won in Springfield with funding. We
think legislators in control of how we are going to spend our highway
dollars should know the opinions in the two townships that probably
will have the greatest impact of any along the route."
An informational meeting about the referendum and the highway will be
held at the Kaneville Community Center at 7 p.m. Thursday. Former Kane
County board Chairman Mike McCoy, experts on environmental impact and
local residents will answer questions about the parkway.
More details on the proposed routes and their potential impact on the area is available at www.prairie-parkway.com.