Illiana Opponents Start Letter Writing Campaign

The Herald Argus reports Illiana Expressway Toll Road opponents have started writing their legislators urging them to oppose the proposed highway. But, it remains to be seen if the letter writing campaign will sway legislators.

CAPIT -- Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road -- held a meeting yesterday in Westville and passed out form letters to the 400 people gathered to mail to their legislators. The CAPIT website, no-illiana.com, also provides tools to mass email all Indiana legislators.

Reports the Herald Argus:

Residents are unsure if the letters will have the desired income.

“Some (lawmakers) will see it as a mass letter and won’t give it the due diligence it deserves. But I would hope some would be moved by them,” Brian said.

It remains to be seen if State Rep. Tom Dermody, R-La Porte, will be moved by the letters.

Dermody, the only state legislator to attend Thursday’s meeting, supports the idea of conducting a study to determine a route for the roadway, but said he’s against the governor having ultimate authority in deciding the route.

But he’s also against voting down the legislation based on displeasure from residents that may or may not be affected.

“We don’t even know what the route is. How can you say no when you don’t know what you are saying no to?” he asked.

If projections of increasing congestion on I-94 are accurate, Dermody said a solution to highway congestion in northwest Indiana will have to be found.

Tech Tags: Illiana Illiana+Expressway Illiana+Legislation Illiana+Toll+Road Interstate Transportation Public+Private+Toll+Roads