WurfWhile

Press Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Hiram Wurf

Democratic Candidate for DuPage County Board District 5

T 630.416.2198

Email hwurf@yahoo.com

Hiram Wurf, Democratic Candidate for DuPage County Board District 5, today criticized the county government for poor transportation planning, citing the proposed expansion of the corner of 75th Street and Washington, likely to be a hot topic tonight at Naperville’s City Council meeting.

“For decades our DuPage government officials have planned transportation with their eyes firmly on the road,” said Mr. Wurf. “They are stuck in traffic and, because of poor planning, we are stuck too. New leadership and vision in transportation will move DuPage forward again.”

The expansion would add two more turn lanes and an additional through lane in an attempt to ease traffic congestion. Many residents in the neighboring Maplebrook subdivision are upset about the corner expansion.

“They came to Naperville because it offered the atmosphere of a town with the amenities of a city near Chicago,” Wurf continued. “Now residents will suffer from the added traffic, noise and pollution that will result from the project.”

Joanne Martino of the Maplebrook I Homeowners Association board is rightly horrified that the intersection “will be wider than Interstate 88.”

James Dragoo, president of the Maplebrook II Homeowners Association points out that beyond the two years of construction involved, “with expansion comes more traffic.”

Some of the homeowners, like Mary Anne McManus, who lives west of Washington Street, and Ms. Martino hope the city will build a sound barrier wall, not because they think it is a good solution, but because they believe they may not be able to stop the project.

“Not only are residents losing the quality of life that brought them to Naperville, but also their property values may suffer during and perhaps after the construction,” said Wurf.

The 75th Street and Washington expansion will cost about $15 million with some of the money likely coming from the county and/or state. Putting numbers to Mr. Dragoo’s point that building roads just keeps attracting more traffic, city estimates predict that the 65,000 motor vehicles that pass the intersection daily will increase by 16% over the next 20 years.

“Local residents will feel the immediate impact because traffic in the area is already too congested, and two years of road construction will make that worse,” Wurf added. “City and county taxpayers will also suffer. It’s a bad problem that’s only getting worse.”

Naperville and DuPage County suffer from reactive instead of pro-active leadership in transportation. All but 6% of DuPage County land is developed, and land prices are high and getting higher, but government officials are still trying to build their way out of motor vehicle traffic congestion with roads.

“To their credit, a couple of months ago the DuPage County Board announced its ‘Healthy Roads Initiative’ that would provide sidewalks or bicycle paths where possible for new construction, continued Wurf. “It is a great idea. It would have been a better idea a decade or more ago, before congestion increased to its current level. It would be a better idea today if it involved putting more construction dollars into an efficient, accessible and reliable mass transit system in the city and county, such as substantially expanding the Pace bus service. That would reduce the number of cars on the road. It would be a better idea today if significant road construction dollars were put into building sidewalks and bicycle paths on existing roads that aren’t otherwise part of new construction. That would also take some cars off the roads.”

Wurf also points out that the money spent on roads could buy transportation solutions for the people of DuPage today, because we are in the second year of a ten-year, $224 million road construction plan that DuPage taxpayers fund through bonds and fuel taxes.

“Where are the comparable funds for Pace busing of seniors, who now make up about 10% of DuPage County’s population, and are likely to increase in numbers?” queried Wurf.

The cities and towns in DuPage are largely funding their own senior transportation. Naperville and Lisle, to their credit, are creating an expanded busing system for seniors. But all the funds for this (in Naperville/Lisle an estimated $450,000 a year (with 17% paid by bus fares)), are a drop in the bucket. The program does not transport non-seniors.

“Where is the funding, comparable to road construction, for mass transit, bicycle paths and walking paths for everyone?” Wurf concluded. “It is about quality of life. Public transportation, walking and bicycle riding will contribute to healthier, less stressful lives for DuPage residents going to work, running errands, shopping, or enjoying the great social and recreational opportunities that our county offers.”

Hiram Wurf is the Democratic candidate for the DuPage County Board District 5. He and his wife have lived in the District for nine years and have two children. Hiram operates the Midwest Regional Office of a promotional marketing solutions firm. You can read more about Hiram’s views on the issues at www.WurfWhile.com.

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