More Congestion In Store Without Alternate Routes?

Will Northwest Indiana solve its transportation problems without additional road construction? The Northwest Indiana Times opines that region motorists should think carefully about the consequences of not planning for additional roadways.

This year, the Indiana General Assembly was considering a plan to study whether to build the Illiana Expressway between I-94 in LaPorte County and I-57 in Illinois. The road was proposed as a way to unclog the Borman.

The loud public outcry against the study -- not the road itself, but simply a feasibility study -- caused the Legislature to approve only a study of a truncated route linking I-65 and I-57.

People driving the region's roads should consider the consequences.

The region's location makes it a logical choice for the transportation, distribution and logistics industry. Intermodal facilities here could help relieve the bottleneck for rail freight traffic in and out of Chicago. That means even more traffic will be using the region's highways -- adding to the congestion if nothing else changes.

It takes many years to move a new highway from a concept to a completed route. The time to plan new routes is now, before the region becomes so heavily developed that new routes are hard to plot.

My prediction. Additional roadways will have to be built in this area to alleviate traffic jams and to facilitate new job creation. The Illiana Expressway will be built because to not build means a future of traffic jams stretching from the Chicago Southland to Berrien County, Michigan.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Illiana Expressway Study Bill Passes

The Illiana Expressway is closer to becoming reality now that a study bill has passed the Indiana House and Senate.

Reports the Northwest Indiana Times:

Lawmakers have agreed to study an Illiana Expressway from Interstate 57 in Illinois to Interstate 65 in Lake County. The plan cleared the Senate 48-0 and the House 95-3 on Sunday

The bill gives $2 million to INDOT to study the need to build the proposed Illiana Expressway from I-65 to I-57.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Illiana Expressway Study Approved By House 91-5

The Indiana House in an overwhelming majority -- 91 in favor to 5 opposed -- has approved a study of the Illiana Expressway in a mass transit study bill, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

Reports the Indianapolis Star:

The House also voted 91-5 to pass SB 105, which would direct the Indiana Department of Transportation to study numerous mass transit projects statewide, including a commuter rail line from Indianapolis to Muncie. The bill also directs further study of the western portion of the Illiana Expressway in Northwest Indiana by a legislative committee.

The Indiana House's approval of the Illiana Expressway study comes on the same day as Scott Ford, a member of the LaPorte County Economic Development Commission, wrote that Indiana's leaders should study the Illiana Expressway proposals in an opinion piece in the Herald Argus.

Our economic future is tied to Chicago and the ability to move our products and people quickly and effectively. The world will continue to shrink and our region’s ability to generate income for its citizens will continue to be directly linked to cost-effective transportation and highways. The economic reality is that there isn’t enough funding to repair our current infrastructure. No one wants to pay more taxes to build new highways and public/private partnerships may be the answer to these funding issues.

We have to have vision and look toward the future. Many of La Porte’s leaders over the last four decades have focused on short-term results that would be visible during their terms of office. Look at where short-term thinking got us today -- a city and county that lags behind state and national averages in income and education. Our best and brightest young people move away because of limited opportunity.

We can’t afford to say no to the Illiana Expressway until every detail and fact is studied extensively. The next 40 years will be impacted by our vision or lack of it.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Northwest Indiana Transit Brain Storming

The debate about the Illiana Expressway has gotten me thinking about alternatives to current modes of transportation. Most Americans today use cars and trucks to travel to and from work, leisure activities, and other locations. What alternatives to automobiles are available?

The Small Urban & Rural Transit Center has some ideas about operating mass transit in western states. Of particular interest is an article that studies how to serve elderly populations who live in rural areas.

As population across rural regions of the United States consolidates around trade centers, the proportion of elderly remaining in small towns and rural areas continues to grow. Their growing proportion and increasing average age is bound to have an influence on their mobility, and a new SURTC study should help researchers and policy makers assess the situation.

Any transit study done locally will have to assess the demographics of our rural areas to ensure that the elderly aren't left behind in policy decision making since they are often the ones who remain behind in smaller towns as younger people leave to seek employment and opportunities in the suburbs and urban areas.

Another idea that could work in smaller towns could be a "bike share" concept that allows people to pay a fee to borrow bikes located in areas around the town. Toronto has this type of bike share program, but it could be modified to address the needs of people wanting to get exercise and avoid driving their cars short distances.

Of course, there's always a problem with "bikes missing in action." Maybe private bike ownership could be encouraged, instead of a communal-style ownership model, so prevent the inevitable waste and fraud that will occur when people aren't fully responsible for their bicycle.

I wonder if an Indianapolis-style "people mover" or another monorail system like the Las Vegas system could work someplace in Northwest Indiana? Maybe lines could be run along Broadway starting at the South Shore Line south to the Methodist and VA Hospitals. Branch lines could run from the central Broadway line to Porter Hospital and downtown Valparaiso, the Lake County Government Center, and the lakefront casinos.

Maybe car sharing could be an option? Dave Brook blogs about the service that allows members to borrow cars as they are needed. Of course, ride sharing could be an option as well.



Copyright (C) 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Time To Make Land Use Plans

No matter if the Illiana Expressway or Westlake Rail Corridor extending South Shore rail service to Lowell and Valparaiso are built or not built, now is the time for Northwest Indiana to look at comprehensive land use plans to maximize the living conditions and economic development for the whole region, says the Northwest Indiana Quality of Life Council.

Writes Meg Haller, Northwest Indiana Quality of Life exec. director, in today's Post-Tribune:

So, speak your peace as you will regarding SB1. But do not miss the forest for the trees.

The time is now to learn how to capture the benefits of major infrastructure developments, such as the Illiana, while mitigating the risks to our three-county area's sustainable future.

The time is now to study, design and implement a comprehensive land-use plan.

Learning how to make the most of the infrastructure we have and plan to build might be the first step toward making Northwest Indiana a model for other communities across the nation. Maybe the debate about the Illiana Expressway will result on comprehensive planning within the various governmental agencies in the region so that we can think about protecting the past, as well as planning for the future.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Illiana Expressway Foe Fears Violence If Toll Road Is Approved

Illiana Expressway opponent Rosemary Gard of Crown Point fears conflict could occur if the proposed toll road from I-65 to I-57 is approved.

From her letter to the Post-Tribune's editor:

We are supposed to be in a democracy; when the people say "no," it should mean something. ...

Those against the Illiana Expressway are in a war, one that I fear will end in conflict. Some will not leave their land. What are the powers going to do? Beat them? Drag them away? Shoot them? ...

I may well be one of the old ladies who won't budge. Perhaps I will chain myself to the porch of my son's home.

I hope that people keep cool heads no matter what happens with the proposed Illiana Expressway legislation.

It is inevitable that change will occur because new people continue to move into Northwest Indiana from Illinois, as well as a continual southward migration away from the urban core.

If the Illiana Expressway bill isn't approved, the highway supporters will have to live with the legislature's decision. The same thing will be true if the Illiana Expressway is approved.

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Did Democrats Fail I-69 Foes?

Bloomington Alternative's editor Steven Higgs laments the fact that recent opposition to the Illiana Expressway and the Indiana Commerce Connector was able to stop or at least change the Governor's plans, but the proposed I-69 route from Indianapolis to Evansville continues to roll on as it has for 16-years with Democratic legislative support.

A remarkable event occurred in Indiana politics on March 24, when an Indiana governor actually listened to the people and responded to their concerns. ...

Add to that the fact that (Mitch) Daniels’ sudden respect for the democratic process involved a pair of proposed highways, the most fertile grounds for political pork, and it was indeed a historic day.

It was also a development that offers some sobering lessons for citizens whose opinions on new-terrain Interstate 69 were treated like contaminated soil by local and state Democrats for 16 years.

It's interesting to note that much of the opposition to creating new interstate highways has been from the GOP, according to Steven Higgs.

Locally, the Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road began in traditionally Republican Porter County.

If the Illiana Expressway plan from Michigan City to the Illinois stateline was proposed by a Democrat governor, I wonder if the results would have been different?

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Will Wheel Tax Be Political Third Rail?

Opponents to the Illiana Expressway have called for greater investment in mass transit, notably extensions of South Shore Line service to Lowell and Valparaiso.

But, will a proposed wheel tax of $50 per car to be collected by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority be too hot for Lake and Porter County legislators to support as an alternate to building another highway connection to Illinois?

The idea to levy the "train tax" was proposed by Rep. Chet Dobis, (D-Merrillville) who says in a Northwest Indiana Times article that he was trying to "plant the seed." The wheel tax proposal has yet to be adopted.

Other Northwest Indiana legislators spoke out against raising vehicle taxes, according to The Times.

"That is one of the most hated taxes -- our plates on our vehicles, " said state Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond. "The people in my community, my neighborhoods, they would be just outraged if we gave them another tax." ...

But the wheel tax is perhaps one of the "most onerous" funding options, said state Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary.

"I don't think it would be well received by my constituents," Brown said.

Porter County representative Duane Cheney, D-Portage said "If there is no other way to do it, I would certainly consider raising taxes" to build the South Shore Line extensions.

Increasing rail service to Northwest Indiana communities is a commendable ideal and could be a solution for some of the transportation needs that would be addressed by the Illiana Expressway, but the unanswered question is what to do with all of the predicted increases in truck traffic on the Borman Expressway?

Copyright 2007, ChristopherHedges.com, All Rights Reserved.

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Anti Illiana Expressway Opponents To Attend Hobart Global Warming Rally?

A message on the Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road asks members to show up wearing "No Illiana" T-shirts to a noon-time rally against global warming in Hobart, Indiana on April 14 at the Hobart First Unitarian Church.

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Let's Build Burnham's Third Ring Road: House Approves Illiana Study Legislation

The Indiana House passed legislation yesterday that would authorize a study of the Illiana Expressway from I-65 in Lake County, Indiana to I-57 in Illinois, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

The measure was passed by voice vote after it was offered as an amendment. The legislation removes the possibility of the Illiana Expressway extending into Porter County or being operated by private entities, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, won support Thursday for a plan to study an Illiana Expressway that won't run through Porter or LaPorte counties or be built with the help of private financing.

The proposal, contained in an amendment the House adopted by a voice vote, still would allow the state to study building the road as a tollway, but only from Interstate 65 in Lake County to Interstate 57 in Illinois. Supporters say the move would put some concrete answers behind a debate now fueled by emotion.

"We need the facts," Soliday said. "Let's get the facts, and let's stop shouting at one another."

The Illiana has been a dream of urban planners for decades. But loud opponents in southern Porter County saw it as a nightmare that would end their bucolic lifestyle.

Reports the Post-Tribune:

The measure allows only a study of the proposal. It does not give the governor authority to enter into a public-private partnership for a company to build the Illiana.

"Let me repeat: There is no P-3 authority in this amendment," Soliday said while explaining his plan, an acknowledgement that much of the opposition in Northwest Indiana to an earlier bill focused on the power it would have given Gov. Mitch Daniels to pursue such a contract to build the Illiana after a study was finished.

Soliday's amendment sets a two-year time limit on the study, and caps the state's payment for the work at $2 million. The study would look only at the western leg of the proposal, from Interstate 57 in Illinois to Interstate 65.

Soliday's amendment would create a bipartisan committee composed of four senators and four representatives to which The Indiana Department of Transportation would report the findings of the feasibility study.

The measure stipulates at least four of the eight members of the committee come from Lake County.

"We can't decide whether to do anything until we have accurate information about whether this would work," Soliday said. "Let's get that information."

Now, let's get out there and study the Illiana Expressway, then build Daniel Burnham's third ring road around Chicago by connecting the Illiana to I-355 at I-80! The visionary planner of Chicago's beautiful lake front saw the need for a third ring road almost a century ago!

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Will Toll Road Plans End Political Careers?

Hoping to defeat plans to authorize the construction of the Illiana Expressway from I-65 to I-57, the Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road plan to make private toll roads a major election issue, writes their leader, Dave Alhberg on CAPIT's message board.

Two years will get us past the current term of the Governor. I'm sure privatization and road building will be a major issue in the election NEXT YEAR.

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

Truck Freight Arteries

Truck freight traffic flows
to and from
Northwest Indiana
via I-80 / I-94.

The Borman Expressway (I-80/I-94) is a major truck freight artery that is filled with flowing traffic that eventually ends up in Texas, according to a map published by Trans-Texas Corridor using federal highway statistics.

Notice I-69 is another major artery flowing with truck freight traffic.

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200 Illiana Protesters Meet in Lake County

About 200 Illiana Expressway protesters gathered to voice their opposition to the proposed toll road at a meeting organized by the Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

Speakers at the forum -- hosted by Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub and Michael Jordan and Julie Clark, all of whom oppose the proposed road -- said the Illiana would benefit Illinois at the expense of Indiana farmers and taxpayers. They decried governmental eminent domain powers. They voiced concern that the road would worsen urban sprawl.

West Creek Township Trustee/Assessor Rick Niemeyer called the proposed expressway a "road that's going to get people to move through our area as fast as they can without stopping."

Scheub floated his alternative: an extension of Chicago's Lake Shore Drive through Indiana. His proposal would improve Indiana's shoreline, bring highly paid jobs to Indiana and reduce taxes, he said.

I have to admit that I like the idea of extending and creating a Northwest Indiana Lake Shore Drive. Maybe that could be something that would be included in Rep. Pete Visclosky's Marquette Greenway proposal for Lake County's lake front?

I wonder if the compromise solution will be to have the state start purchasing additional I-80 / I-94 right of way north of the existing Borman Expressway to be able to create additional lanes to handle the extra traffic predicted in the next ten years or so. Maybe express lanes for California-to-New-York trucks and local lanes could be created as a compromise solution.

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Non-Elected Board To Collect Train Tax?

Will Northwest Indiana residents start paying a train tax imposed by a non-elected board of political appointees to fund a mass transit project connecting Valparaiso and Lowell to the South Shore Train line?

Indiana State Rep. Chet Dobis (D-Merrillville) proposes a new wheel tax of up to $50 to pay for a South Shore Line extension to Lowell and Valparaiso. The new tax would be charged to vehicle owners in Lake and Porter Counties.

The Post-Tribune reports that the train tax plan would let the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority impose the tax to pay for the project that could cost $900 million.

Questions have been raised about the plan to let a non-governmental agency levy taxes, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

State law already permits local vehicle taxes of up to $25, but Lake and Porter are not among the more than three-dozen counties that impose the levy. Dobis' plan would bypass county officials, instead giving the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority power to impose a single rate of up to $50 a year on motorists in Lake and Porter counties.

"I have serious concerns about allowing a non-elected board to impose any kind of tax," said state Rep. Dan Stevenson, D-Highland.

Other lawmakers, including some from outside the region, also questioned the wisdom of turning taxing authority over to the RDA board, which is appointed by county officials, mayors and the governor. Dobis acknowledged the "bone of contention" but suggested the scenario is no different than non-elected school boards that lord over multimillion-dollar construction projects.

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More Evidence The Illiana Fight Unites Both Left And Right

The Daily Kos last month covered the Illiana Expressway issue after blog post author "ManfromMiddleton" picks up a copy of a conservative student newspaper at Purdue University: It's more proof that the Illiana Expressway Toll Road has the potential to unite the political Left and political Right in one coalition.

From the Daily Kos (special recognition to Dalton over at Porter County Politics for noticing it):

Thomas wrote about the Illiana highway project and the regional planning commission's opposition to it earlier today. From Thomas, I expect this, though we've never actually met, I have what I think is a decent understanding of the guy. Walking through one of the buildings on campus earlier this week, I picked up a new paper that I had never seen before, the Purdue Review. What attracted me was a headline on the frontpage, "The Real Toll of Illiana: The End of Rural Indiana", that turned out to be highly critical of Daniels adminstration. All the more suprising then my realization that this was the new campus conservative newspaper. Opening the page to see the Gipper 6 inches from my kisser gave it away.

I'm sure that we disagree about many other things, but I agree with much of what Jeff Schultz has to say.

The Daily Kos quotes Jeff Schultz's article:

Mitch Daniels told the 2006 Republican convention that, "if you are not for this plan, you are against our future." Indiana has always been a rural, Midwestern state. There might be more than corn in Indiana but let's not forget our roots. A big part of future is still in small communities like mine. Don't listen to Daniel's rhetoric. He's a politician and it's his job to lie. Being a newspaper writer, it is my duty to tell you the truth and the truth is that if you are for the building of the Illiana Expressway then you are against our future (those who live in Northwestern Indiana.) Daniels doesn't care. He probably wouldn't mind sacrificing a few, despicable hicks like us off the map. Maybe we are hicks, but we have the right as American to live a life of freedom and happiness.

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LaPorte Businesses Want Illiana Study

While the Illiana Expressway plans may be scaled back or permanently tabled, LaPorte business leaders are requesting Indiana legislators conduct a feasibility study of the highway project.


Writes Daniel Przbyla in the LaPorte Herald Argus:

Forty-eight businesses in La Porte, including 24 manufacturers, signed a petition circulated by the Greater La Porte Chamber of Commerce last month in support of a feasibility study into the 50-mile tollway that would cut through Lake, Porter and La Porte counties before linking up with the Indiana Toll Road. The petition was forwarded to state legislators, Northwest Indiana Forum and Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission.

“How can you make an informed decision without a study? Let’s do a study and see what happens,” chamber President Mike Seitz said.

“Fifteen to 20 years from now it will be gridlock on the Borman Expressway (I-94). (La Porte manufacturers) don’t want their trucks idling for hours on the Borman.”

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What Illiana Expressway?

Residents of northeastern Illinois haven't heard much about the Illiana Expressway proposal, reports the Daily Southtown, even though local Illinois leaders are in favor of the new highway.

The proposed highway remains a favorite of municipal leaders and businesses who favor the economic development it will bring.

Ed Paesel, executive director of the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association, envisions an expressway south of Monee, running north of the proposed south suburban airport near Peotone and cutting across Illinois 394 along Goodenow Road before reaching I-57.

Paesel said the ongoing widening of the Kingery and Borman expressways will not be enough to handle future traffic volume.

"Every capacity study shows us that in a short number of years, those lanes will be filled up," Paesel said. "There is no room for any more lanes."

And if the path of the Illiana Expressway is not decided soon, the land will be gobbled up by suburban sprawl, he said.

But the motoring public still needs to catch on to the concept.

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South Bend Tribune Calls For Illiana Expressway Study

The South Bend Tribune calls for a study of the feasibility of the Illiana Expressway Toll Road.

Right now, it appears to be 'bye. Or, at best, wait and see. And that might be just as well. But we believe a study of the proposed Illiana Expressway proposal is in order. It could be an important component of a much-needed comprehensive long-term Indiana transportation plan.

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Was Giving Lake Co. Tourism Board Property Seizure Power Accidental?

Porter County legislators are upset about a "drafting error" in a dead bill that would have allowed Lake County, Indiana tourism officials to exercise eminent domain around the state, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

This issue had been a topic of discussion at the Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Tollroad message board in late March:

Wrote CAPIT leader Dave Alhberg on the anti Illiana Expressway board March 30:

One of our members brought this to my attention.

House Bill 1166 gives the Lake County Convention and Tourism Bureau the right to eminent domain throughout the state of Indiana! They already have this power in Lake County!

The bill is up for second reading and amendment in the Senate. I sent an e-mail (as a private citizen, not representing CAPIT) to Senators 1 through 8 strongly objecting to this ridiculous granting of eminent domain power. What does the Lake County Tourism Bureau want to condemn in other counties?

If you are like me, and believe that eminent domain powers need to be severely restricted, if not totally abolished, please send an e-mail to the local senators, and include "eminent domain" in your subject line to get their attention.

Thanks for your help!

Dave

A subsequent message showed the new eminent domain power that would be seemingly granted to the Lake County tourism officials:

SECTION 3, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2007]: Sec. 4. (a) The bureau may:

(1) accept and use gifts, grants, and contributions from any public or private source, under terms and conditions that the bureau considers necessary and desirable;

(2) sue and be sued;

(3) enter into contracts and agreements;

(4) make rules necessary for the conduct of its business and the accomplishment of its purposes;

(5) receive and approve, alter, or reject requests and proposals for funding by corporations qualified under subdivision (6);

(6) after its approval of a proposal, transfer money from the promotion fund or from the alternate revenue fund to any Indiana nonprofit corporation to promote and encourage conventions, trade shows, visitors, or special events in the county;

(7) require financial or other reports from any corporation that receives funds under this chapter;

(8) enter into leases under IC 36-1-10 for the construction, acquisition, and equipping of a visitor center; and

(9) exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire property to promote and encourage conventions, trade shows, special events, recreation, and visitors. within the county.

(b) All expenses of the bureau shall be paid from the promotion

Writes the Northwest Indiana Times on the controversial legislation:

Officials in Porter County are up in arms over failed legislation they fear would have given Lake County tourism officials the power to seize private property beyond its borders.

State Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, said the proposal was a drafting error, but Porter County Council President Dan Whitten does not buy the explanation.

"How can they make such an error?" Whitten asked. ...

The bill in question, which is considered dead, called for eliminating the four county appointments to the bureau's governing board and allowing promotion money to be spent outside Lake County. Dobis said he has no plans to resurrect the proposal in another bill.

Giving Lake County officials the power to take property in other parts of the state would have been a bad deal for all involved, except maybe the Lake County officials who would have gained from the ability to grab various properties.

Just think of how much money GUEA's officials could have grabbed if they would have had the power of statewide eminent domain?

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

eminent+domain

tourism