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Aurora Beacon-News
April 10, 2003
CATS document: More projects to be trimmed from final draft
By Dave Parro
STAFF WRITER
A plan that maps out the future of the Chicago region's transportation system includes a list of more than 40 new
projects, but funding in the next three decades won't even come close to covering the cost of all of them.
The shortfall means many of the proposals still have to be cut in the coming months as the Chicago Area Transportation
Study's 2030 plan is finalized. As part of a continuing public process, CATS officials want to make sure area residents
have a say in which projects become a priority.
Area projects being considered include the Prairie Parkway, widening of Interstate 88 and several rail line extensions.
The Regional Transportation Plan anticipates $61 billion in available transportation funds between 2004 and 2030,
although the set of current recommendations carries a price tag of $73 billion. Most of the available money will
go to maintaining current infrastructure, leaving new capital projects as the most vulnerable to being eliminated.
The current draft includes 42 projects at a cost of $21 billion, but it's likely only about half of those will
remain in the final plan to be released this fall. The 2020 plan included 22 capital projects.
"I think most or all of (the cuts) will come in capital projects," Eugene Ryan, the associate executive
director for CATS, said. "We've got about twice as many as we can fund."
CATS, the transportation planning organization for northeastern Illinois, narrowed down a much longer list of proposals
after a series of public meetings last summer. Independent transportation agencies each submitted projects to be
included in the plan, which is a prerequisite to obtaining federal funding for the region.
Area transportation projects included in the plan include the Prairie Parkway connecting Interstates 88 and 80
through Kane and Kendall counties; the Metra commuter STAR rail line connecting Joliet and O'Hare International
Airport, with stations in Joliet, Plainfield, Naperville, Aurora, West Chicago, Elgin and other communities; and
the extension of three of Metra's current lines: the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line to Plano, the Union Pacific
West line to Elburn, and the Milwaukee District West line to Huntley.
The list includes adding lanes to Interstate 88, a blue line "L" extension into the western suburbs and
a DuPage County rapid transit bus system.
CATS plans to have six meetings to seek further public input on the proposals. One of the meetings will be at 4
p.m. April 24 at the Wheaton Park District Center, 1777 S. Blanchard St. A half-hour program on the proposed 2030
Regional Transportation Plan will also be aired six times this month, starting today, on WJYS-TV, Channel 62 (Channel
14 on Aurora cable television).
The draft can be viewed at www.catsmpo.com. Comments can also be submitted from the Web site or at (800) 227-0971,
and more information is available online about the planning process.
Ryan said there will be a final set of public meetings in August for input on the final draft, which will be approved
by a policy committee in October.