Investment in Tollway Good for Rosemont

We have the opportunity to sharpen our region’s competitive edge by embracing a state-of-the-art transportation project to improve the 22-mile stretch of the 292-mile Tollway system with the highest rate of congestion and travel delays. The Central Tri-State project was originally proposed to simply bring the crumbling roadway, between Balmoral Avenue and 95th Street, into a “state of good repair.” Basically, we would tear up a major artery linking six interstates, hundreds of thousands of motorists, businesses and Chicago’s two international airports, without really fixing the problem. What’s needed is added capacity.

Congestion along this corridor creates unreliable travel times and safety concerns for motorists, and limits Illinois’ ability to move goods and services throughout the system, hindering economic development and regional competitiveness.

I applaud the Illinois Tollway’s vision to invest $4 billion to add lanes, relieve flooding, integrate smart road technology and flex lanes, all without increasing tolls or using taxpayer dollars. The Village of Rosemont partnered with the Tollway to construct the Balmoral Avenue on-ramp to southbound I-294, and the off-ramp from northbound I-294 to Balmoral. Both have been instrumental in attracting entertainment and retail development, serving convention business, and will help provide better access to current projects. The Pearl District, a mixed-use development, and a 6,500-seat baseball stadium are under construction and will open summer 2018. The more than 100,000 people who visit Rosemont every day enjoy more reliable travel times while the state and Cook County benefit from the tax revenue brought by our success.

As Mayor of a village that has experienced significant benefits from the Tollway’s investment in our community, I have full confidence that it will work with impacted stakeholders to develop a plan that adds value to their neighborhoods while balancing the necessity for a long-term solution that carries tremendous regional benefits.

Mayor Bradley Stephens

Rosemont, Illinois