SJ0030 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0030 LRB102 18248 HEP 25913 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority expended time and resources on the Illinois Route 53/120 project, later known as the Tri-County Access project, and estimated in 2019 that it would take substantial funds to complete studies for that project; and

WHEREAS, The authority for that project derived from Senate Joint Resolution 14 of the 88th General Assembly, adopted over a quarter-century ago on July 2, 1993, which authorized the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority to expand certain roads; and

WHEREAS, In 2012, the 97th General Assembly declined to pass Senate Joint Resolution 77, which would have explicitly renewed authorization for the extension of I-53; and

WHEREAS, In July of 2019, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority requested that the Federal Highway Administration rescind its Letter of Intent for the "Tri-County Environmental Impact Statement" study, which included roads referenced in Senate Joint Resolution 14 of the 88th General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, In August of 2019, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority stated that the project lacked sufficient local support it previously enjoyed, including the support of the Lake County Board; and

WHEREAS, The Lake County Board has included the rescission of Route 53 Extension Authority as part of its legislative agenda for the 2021 session of the General Assembly; and

WHEREAS, In August of 2019, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority declared that it was not in the Tollway's interest to lead further development of the project, and terminated the ongoing study and contracts related to the project; and

WHEREAS, In October of 2019, the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit found that the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority had terminated the Illinois Route 53/120 project; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that Senate Joint Resolution 14 of the 88th General Assembly, adopted on July 1, 1993, is rescinded.