093_SR0173

 
                                     LRB093 12009 DRH 16606 r

 1                          SENATE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Public transit provides substantial  energy  and
 3    environmental benefits; and

 4        WHEREAS,  Congestion  now  costs the Chicago Metropolitan
 5    Area $4,000,000,000 per year in lost productivity, fuel,  and
 6    insurance costs; and

 7        WHEREAS,    The    United   States   Congress   and   the
 8    Administration should be urged to support  increased  funding
 9    for  public  transit  in  the  pending reauthorization of the
10    Transportation Equity Act; and

11        WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)
12    has determined that the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290)  is  in
13    need of reconstruction and renovation; and

14        WHEREAS,  IDOT also has proposed expansion of portions of
15    I-290; and

16        WHEREAS,  The  Regional  Transit   Authority   (RTA)   is
17    conducting  a  study  of  potential  transit  projects in the
18    multi-modal corridor reaching out  west  from  Chicago  along
19    I-290  ("Central Cook-DuPage corridor"), one or more of which
20    may be viable alternatives to expansion of I-290; and

21        WHEREAS, The North and West Central Councils  of  Mayors,
22    representing  municipalities  in  the Chicago area within the
23    corridor, have expressed support for the Central  Cook-DuPage
24    corridor transit projects and the RTA study; and

25        WHEREAS,  Chicago  area  transit  agencies have submitted
26    numerous  transit  projects  in   the   Central   Cook-DuPage
27    multi-modal corridor to the Chicago Area Transportation Study
28    for  inclusion  in  the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for
29    the Chicago Area, including the CTA Blue Line extension  from
30    Forest  Park  to  Lisle, Phase I of  CTA's Circle Line, which
 
                            -2-      LRB093 12009 DRH 16606 r
 1    would double the capacity of the Forest Park  branch  of  the
 2    Blue  Line,  the  Metra  Union  Pacific West Line upgrade and
 3    extension, Ogden Avenue Transitway, PACE's  Cermak  Road  Bus
 4    Rapid Transit, and DuPage J Line Bus Rapid Transit; and

 5        WHEREAS,   Federal   funding   for  major  transportation
 6    projects generally is conditioned  on  detailed  analyses  of
 7    potential  alternatives  and environmental impacts in a Major
 8    Investment Study and Environmental Impact Statement; and

 9        WHEREAS, Existing use of I-290 causes substantial health,
10    safety,  economic,   and   environmental   impacts   on   the
11    surrounding communities that would be exacerbated if I-290 is
12    expanded; and

13        WHEREAS,  Major  transportation project decisions need to
14    be made by the affected communities  and  citizens  with  the
15    involvement of all transportation agencies; and

16        WHEREAS,  The  Village of Oak Park has been granted State
17    and federal funding to further determine the feasibility  and
18    the scope of constructing a cap over all or portions of I-290
19    (the  "Oak  Park Cap"), in conjunction with reconstruction of
20    the highway, as a potential means of  enhancing  transit  and
21    mobility  options  and mitigating adverse impacts; therefore,
22    be it

23        RESOLVED, BY  THE  SENATE  OF  THE  NINETY-THIRD  GENERAL
24    ASSEMBLY  OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support the RTA's
25    study  and  its  objective  to  conduct  a full-fledged Major
26    Investment Study  for  the  Central  Cook-DuPage  multi-modal
27    corridor  in a manner  that examines all potential methods of
28    relieving congestion and increasing  mobility  in  the  I-290
29    corridor on a thorough and objective basis; and be it further

30        RESOLVED,   That  any  further  proceedings  to  consider
31    expansion of I-290 should be integrated into an evaluation of
 
                            -3-      LRB093 12009 DRH 16606 r
 1    viable transit alternatives identified in the RTA study;  and
 2    be it further

 3        RESOLVED,   That  any  further  proceedings  to  consider
 4    expansion of I-290  should  include  detailed  assessment  of
 5    potential   environmental   impacts   by  preparation  of  an
 6    Environmental Impact Statement; and be it further

 7        RESOLVED, That IDOT should halt design work on  expanding
 8    I-290  until  the RTA  study is completed and until a Central
 9    Cook-DuPage multi-modal Corridor Council, comprised of  chief
10    municipal  elected  officials,  community  and  environmental
11    groups,    and    citizen   representatives   and   involving
12    representatives of all of  the  transportation  agencies  for
13    northeastern  Illinois,  selects  a  preferred alternative or
14    combination of alternatives to address congestion and improve
15    mobility needs in this corridor; and be it further

16        RESOLVED, That the Oak Park Cap  should  be  incorporated
17    into the design of a  reconstructed I-290; and be it further

18        RESOLVED, That we urge the United States Congress and the
19    Administration  to  strongly support proposals for funding of
20    the Central Cook-DuPage multi-modal corridor projects and the
21    Oak  Park  Cap  in  the  pending   reauthorization   of   the
22    Transportation Equity Act; and be it further

23        RESOLVED,  That  suitable  copies  of  this resolution be
24    delivered to the Governor of Illinois, the Illinois Secretary
25    of Transportation, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation,  the
26    President  pro tempore of the U.S. Senate, the Speaker of the
27    U.S.  House  of  Representatives,  and  each  member  of  the
28    Illinois congressional delegation.