Morris Daily Herald
August 2, 2004
By Jo Ann Hustis
Herald Writer
LISLE - Setting aside federal funding for the Prairie Parkway is premature while the proposal is still under study,
a protest group contends.
"There are so many worthwhile projects ready to go that committing a billion dollars or so for a project the
state can't even say is needed yet is just not prudent," noted Jan Strasma, chairman of Citizens Against the
Sprawlway.
The organization opposes the 36-mile outer beltway from Interstate 80 west of Minooka in Grundy County through
Kendall County to Interstate 88 in Kane county.
Strasma said today he and the CAS are of the opinion any available money would be better spent on improvements
to Illinois 47 and other north-south highways in Illinois.
"There are plans to widen Illinois 47 through Yorkville," he said. "IDOT is clearly aware of the
potential for improving Illinois 47. But, if they put all their eggs in one basket, there will not be money left
for other improvements."
CAS is a grassroots organization of about 1,000 residents of the three-county area. The group contends diverse
solutions to current and future transportation needs would be better for the area than constructing one limited-access
highway.
He said CAS sent letters last weekend to Timothy Mann, secretary of the Illinois Depart-ment of Transportation;
House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Yorkville; State Senator Chris Lauzen, R-Aurora; Congress-women Judy Biggert, R-Claren-don
Hills, and Patricia Reid Lindner; plus the Kane and Kendall County board chairmen.
The letters say the six-year federal transportation funding bill, H.R. 3550 which does not specifically include
the Prairie Parkway is before a House-Senate conference committee.
Noting several members of the Illinois Congressional delegation are on the conference committee, the letter urges
them to defer any further funding for the proposed parkway until the studies are completed.
"Tell the congressional delegation that IDOT has not decided the Prairie Parkway is the solution to the area's
transportation needs and that funding now would be premature," the letters note in part.
The letters also say the highway would destroy thousands of acres of farmland, speed up development and sprawl,
and endanger the Big Rock Creek and Aux Sable Creek watersheds.
"These costs and impacts are great, but the only beneficiaries are the growth and development interests of
the Yorkville-Plano area," the letters say.
IDOT is in the second year of a four- to six-year study of transportation needs in the three-county area. The study
is financed with a $15 million federal grant, plus $3.75 million in state funds.
The letters say that, although the state has recorded a corridor for a limited-access highway, IDOT and its consultants
say they began the study with no preordained solution to the area's transportation needs.
"To endorse a solution through federal funding before the Prairie Parkway study is completed will undermine
the public trust in IDOT and the study process," the letter noted.
"Your declaration will do much to affirm the integrity of the study process and assure the public that, indeed,
IDOT is keeping an open mind."
Strasma said today CAS is expecting answers.
"The state always answers my letters," he noted. "What I've seen quoted in other papers is that
they haven't requested the money and have not told Congress to give the money. IDOT should declare they won't seek
any money for the project until the studies are done."
He said the Prairie Parkway proposal is not included in the state's five-year road plan, and that the study has
another three to four years to go before completion.
"At this point, the Prairie Parkway is not listed in the federal transportation bill," Strasma said.
"The category of projects of national and regional significance are not listed in that yet. There is great
indication that the feds have circled a great deal of money for the Prairie Parkway."
Strasma said the study could go wherever anyone wants it to go.
"Our job as citizens is to make sure IDOT does its job," he said, "has a blank slate, and does look
at alternatives."