Tremendous Turnout Needed At I-80 Safety Forum, Slocum Says

JOLIET, IL - Thursday night at the University of St. Francis will be a telling sign whether Joliet-area residents are fed up and disgusted with I-80, according to 1340 WJOL morning show host Scott Slocum. From 6 to 8 p.m. at the Moser Performing Arts Center, the R.U.S.H. coalition will hold a two-hour forum that will unveil solutions to bring an end to the continued loss of life along a treacherous 14-mile stretch of I-80, from Ridge Road by Minooka, through Joliet, and all the way to New Lenox and the Route 30 interchange.

Week after week, semitrailers collide and people are continuing to die. The most recent death occurred last week along I-80's stretch of Grundy County near Minooka. Late last year, R.U.S.H. mobilized a grassroots campaign that will bring numerous public officials and politicians to Thursday night's event at the University of St. Francis. R.U.S.H. stands for Residents United for Safer Highways.

The event will feature Mary Craighead of the Illinois Economic Policy Institute. "She will present a never been released or seen report," Slocum told Joliet Patch.

People in attendance will learn truck traffic counts, fatalities since 2005, crash data, particular hot spots that are prone to crashes and what bridges are deemed structurally deficient, Slocum said.

Her presentation will also look at the economic impact in terms of jobs that a redesign of I-80 would mean for the Joliet, New Lenox and Minooka area.

"This will be an in-depth report," Slocum promised. "This report will be earth-shattering and it will be worth the price of admission right there."

Slocum was joking of course, there is no cost to attend.

However, Slocum said the event will be considered a huge failure if, say, just a couple dozen people showed up at Moser. The auditorium can hold nearly 240 people, he said.

"I'm hoping we can get 180 to 190 people," Slocum said. "We really need to pack the place. We have to show elected officials and IDOT that people do care about it."

WHERE TO PARK

The University of St. Francis is located near Plainfield Road at 500 Wilcox Street in Joliet.

Parking will be available in Lots B, H, I and F on a first come first serve basis. Additional parking is available at St. Raymond Cathedral on Mason Ave.

You can find driving directions to the campus here.

The Moser Performing Arts Center is building number 10 on that same map. The actual meeting is being held in the Sexton Auditorium which is just inside the Moser Performing Arts Center.

Image of Moser Performing Arts Center via University of St. Francis communications staff