Elburn Herald
August 29, 2002
by Susan O'Neill
More than 400 people attended a picnic and rally against the proposed outer beltway last Sunday.
The rally took place on the Marvel Davis farm in Big Rock. Her farm is one of those that would be severed if the proposed beltway, designed to connect I-80 and I-88, was built along the corridor chosen by last month by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). The event was sponsored by Citizens Against the Sprawlway (CAS), a grassroots organization opposing the highway.
Several area politicians addressed the crowd, including Republican Kane County Clerk candidate Jack Cunningham, Kane County Board Chairman Mike McCoy and Democratic congressional candidate Larry Quick, who will be challenging Congressman Dennis Hastert.
Cunningham encouraged the group in its efforts to stop the highway, telling them that they can make a difference. He said that there is probably a need for a highway, but it's a question of alignment.
"You need to see where there will be a minimum impact on the ecology and where there is the maximum need. It's fortunate for us that McCoy is an engineer and fortunate that we have someone like Hastert (in Washington)."
The CAS group has been critical of Hastert, saying that he is the one behind the highway. Hastert recently obtained $15 million to study the need for such a road from the U.S. Department of Transportation, and has supported the corridor. Defending him, Cunningham said, "Hastert is a good person; I know that he's listened in the past. Maybe you need to scream a little louder, and that's what people here today are doing."
"I'm totally opposed to the parkway," said Quick. "One person's vote can make a difference."
Quick questioned why the state is not improving what is already there.
"To meet the growing transportation needs of the area, I would be in favor of expanding (Route) 47 into four lanes, with a bypass around Yorkville, Sugar Grove and Elburn for the heavy truck traffic," Quick said.
Citing I-39, which is 15 miles west, and Route 47, which is about four miles to the east, Quick said, "It (the beltway) is totally unnecessary. It's simply an engine for high-density development and it will have a devastating consequence on our water supply. We're already experiencing that this summer."
Quick's wife, Nancy, reinforced her husband's position, saying, "The only reason (for the beltway) basically is development. We were driving in from DeKalb this morning and I just don't know who would want to ruin something as beautiful as this land."
"It's political," said Blanca Souders, a resident of Kaneville Township who will also be affected by the highway. "The need does not exist. Dennis Hastert is trying to leave a legacy for himself. If he wants to build it, then why doesn't he build it through his house?"
Those attending the rally also signed petitions to gubernatorial candidates Democrat Rod Blagojevich and Republican Jim Ryan opposing the highway. That could be important, McCoy told the crowd, because a new governor and a new state highway director could change the direction of the outer beltway project.
"It makes sense for it to be closer to Aurora," McCoy said, "where there are 140,000 people who would actually use the road, and closer to Sugar Grove and Montgomery, places that want growth."
When CAS needed a place to hold the rally, they said the farm was a natural choice.
"Davis' farm was a perfect setting," said Jan Strasma, head of CAS, "because you can see what we're about to lose if the road were to go through." Davis has also been an outspoken critic of the proposed highway, whether it comes through her farm or someone else's.
CAS has been active in opposing the highway since the initial public hearing announcing the proposal back in December of 2001.
After Illinois Secretary of Transportation Kirk Brown announced the site of the corridor at the end of July, the group sent a letter to Brown requesting additional public hearings on the modified corridor. They are currently working with St. Charles attorney Tim Dwyer to challenge the constitutionality of the state statute that IDOT is using to site the corridor.
State Sen. Chris Lauzen, who attended the rally but did not address the gathering, told Strasma that he is working on legislation to change the statute, and plans to introduce it next year.
Kane County Board Member Jan Carlson
commented, "It's difficult to keep groups like this one organized.
It's a lengthy process, so these kinds of things are important to
show there's support." He added that he was disappointed that the
County Board's recommendation for an alternate corridor route has not
been considered by IDOT.