WurfWhile

While I’m on record against O’Hare Expansion, what I’m against more than anything else is the deception we’ve been seeing, particularly in DuPage. If expansion proponents believe O’Hare Expansion is the right way to go, and destroying the homes, businesses and communities is justified, then I believe the proponents owe it to those who will lose so much to be honest with them, and give them a public chance to voice their concerns and objections. It seems that engaging in open dialogue is the least one can offer before destroying hundreds or thousands of homes, hundreds of businesses and the communities involved in the name of progress and economic development - progress and economic development some argue will not live up to the optimistic projections.

Unfortunately that seems to be far from the approach. Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune reports that Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson has obtained a confidential map of the planned (and publicly hidden) road path for the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway extension from the west to O’Hare, with links to the Northwest and Tri-State Tollways. Elk Grove Village officials say the map shows the road would run west of York Road in Bensenville and Elmhurst Road in Elk Grove. In Bensenville the planned road goes through the Metra station, the new Village Hall that cost $4 million and the River Forest Country Club. In Elk Grove the route runs through an industrial park, “destroying hundreds of businesses whose tax dollars support everything from school districts and parks to libraries,” according to Village officials.

The map came from a recent state terrorism task force meeting that considered O’Hare evacuation routes.

Just last week the DuPage County Board started approving intergovernmental agreements assigning responsibilities for the $2 billion in expansion roadwork, despite claiming not to have seen a detailed road map, which they denied existed. They should be ashamed of themselves. DuPage deserves better.