Writes Times reporter Dan Carden regarding the proposed Illiana Expressway commission:

Gov. Mitch Daniels wants to create a bistate commission with Illinois to streamline planning and bidding for the Illiana Expressway.

Speaking to reporters Friday, the Republican governor said an existing bridge commission between Indiana and Kentucky could serve as a model for the Illiana joint venture.

Gov. Mitch Daniels plans to meet with Illinois’ Gov. Pat Quinn about the Illiana Expressway commission, reports Jon Seidel of the Post-Tribune.

Mitch Daniels said he will sign the Illiana Expressway legislation passed by the Indiana House and Senate when it reaches his desk.

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Writes Joseph Ryan of the Daily Herald:

Tollway officials announced last month that they would look at building a Route 53 north extension, the West suburban Prairie Parkway, the O’Hare western bypass and the south suburban Illiana Expressway.

They also are considering tolls on the Eisenhower Expressway and raising fees during rush hour to discourage congestion.

The success of all these projects hinges on Open Road Tolling, which eliminated backups caused by cars lining up to pay their tolls in favor of electronic charges. If the electronic system that catches toll cheats in I-PASS lanes isn’t sound, experts say, the public may find it that much harder to accept the expansions officials envision.

“This will really erode public confidence in (the tollway’s) ability to carry out what they are supposed to do,” said Joseph DiJohn, director of the University of Chicago’s Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative.

“It will make it very difficult to get public support” for future projects, he added, if the problems aren’t fixed.

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Don’t be surprised if area officials now start pushing hard for the Peotone airport and the Illiana expressway in 2008, Greuling predicted.

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