Title
Resolution submitting the results of the advisory referendum to the State of Illinois, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, and the Lake County State and Federal legislative delegation.
Staff Summary
• The Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority have completed numerous studies over the years for extending IL Route 53.
• In 2006, a Lake County Transportation Summit was held at which 69% of Lake County elected officials voted in support of the extension of IL Route 53 into central Lake County.
• The Lake County Board authorized a non-binding referendum to determine the level of public support for the extension of Illinois Route 53 through Lake County.
• On April 7, 2009 Lake County voters were asked: “Shall the State of Illinois construct the extension of Route 53 from Lake Cook Road northerly to the existing IL Route 120?”, and the results showed 75.72% of voters supported the future extension of IL Route 53, (a three to one margin); 63,645 voted “Yes”, out of 84,049 total voters.
• The referendum results indicate there is overwhelming consensus among Lake County voters to extend Route 53 into Lake County.
• Lake County strongly urges State Legislators, as well as the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois Toll Highway Authority, to plan for the extension of Route 53, including identifying a funding source, and further, the County will seek assistance from Lake County’s U.S. legislators to identify federal funds to implement this critical regional transportation project.
Body
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, the 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Northeastern Illinois, adopted October 8, 2006 includes the possible extension of IL Route 53 from Lake Cook Road north to IL Route 120; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Department of Transportation has historically accomplished the planning and environmental assessments required for new expressways in northeastern Illinois whether they were constructed as free or toll facilities; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority completed the draft report of the Lake County Transportation Improvement Project in September 2001 that included an alternative for extending Route 53; and
WHEREAS, a Lake County Transportation Summit was held in September 2006 at which 69% of Lake County local elected officials voted in support of the extension of Route 53 into central Lake County; and,
WHEREAS, Lake County residents and other stakeholders have consistently expressed a strong interest in the future extension of IL-53 during public forums and directly to their local elected officials; and,
WHEREAS, the Lake County Board authorized the submission of a referendum advisory question of public policy to the voters of Lake County pursuant to 55 ILCS 5/5-1005.5 and Article 28 of the Illinois Election Code, 10 ILCS 5/28-1 et seq.; and,
WHEREAS, a referendum advisory question asking voters “Shall the State of Illinois construct the extension of Route 53 from Lake Cook Road northerly to the existing IL Route 120?” was presented to the voters of the County of Lake, Illinois, at the consolidated election held on April 7, 2009; and
WHEREAS, the voters supported the extension of Illinois Route 53 at a margin of three to one; or 75% of voters supported the future extension of IL Route 53; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this non-binding referendum was to determine the level of public support in Lake County for the extension of Illinois Route 53 through Lake County and to share that result with the State of Illinois.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, the April, 7, 2009 Advisory Question of Public Opinion results show there is overwhelming consensus support among Lake County voters to extend Route 53 into Lake County;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lake County Board urges the Illinois Department of Transportation to initiate a planning process that engages all affected communities in an effort to build consensus around development of an environmentally sound and context sensitive integrated system of roads and transit improvements from the terminus of Rt. 53 to Rt. 120;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Lake County Board acknowledges that this traffic system improvement needs to operate effectively with the proposed Rt. 120 4-lane boulevard bypass, as already support by the Rt. 120 Corridor Planning Council, of which Lake County is a member;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Lake County will participate in the planning process when initiated;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the County Clerk of Lake County is hereby directed to present to the Governor and the Secretary of Transportation of the State of Illinois, to the U.S. Congressional Representatives representing Lake County, to the U.S. Senators from Illinois, to the Illinois State Senators and Illinois State Representatives representing Lake County, to the Illinois Department of Transportation, to the Illinois Tollway Executive Board and the Illinois Tollway Executive Director a certified copy of this resolution.
DATED, at WAUKEGAN, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, on this 14th day of April, A.D., 2009.