The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (ISTHA) shares the Tribune’s opinion (“Tollway gets chance to change,” March 23) regarding the need for ISTHA to take a leadership role in the planning and implementation of total transportation solutions for the Northern Illinois area. More important, we are demonstrating our commitment to that process on a continuing basis. Examples:
ISTHA has long been an active participant and supporter of the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS) and the Northern Illinois Plan Commission (NIPC). In particular, we endorse the recommendations found in the CATS Destination 2020 Plan, which calls for major invest-ments in mass transit as well as comprehensive plans for Chicago-area transportation needs.
We have been working with the RTA and other interested parties in an effort to determine the feasibility of an extension of the CTA Blue Line in the Northwest Tollway (Interstate Highway 90) median from O’Hare to the Schaumburg area. The most recent example of our commitment to this process is the March 19 decision of the ISTHA board of directors to fund one-third of the cost of a necessary $480,000 project feasibility study. The RTA and four interested villages will fund the remaining portion.
ISTHA’s participation and 50 percent funding of the Lake County Transportation Project is another example.
The decision to build each of the roadways that comprise the Illinois Tollway system was made by the Illinois General Assembly, not by ISHTA. The General Assembly continues to direct ISHTA to build additional roadways, as evidenced by its 1993 mandate that we build two extensions of Interstate Highway 355 in Will County and a new tollway in Lake County. While we will proceed with these assigned projects as directed, we will do so within the context of regional transportation planning.
