Amid heavy political pressure, a plan to build a new expressway between Chicago's suburbs and Indiana backed by Gov. Pat Quinn and the Illinois Department of Transportation was dealt a significant defeat by Chicago's regional MPO this week.
"Tempers flared as regional leaders on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning voted 10-4 against putting the controversial Illiana Expressway Wednesday on a list of significant projects, allowing it to receive federal funding," reports Marni Pyke. State and regional planners disagree on the project's expected costs and benefits.
"The fate of the Illiana — a proposed tollway linking I-55 in the south suburbs with I-65 in Indiana — is still up in the air, though," notes Pyke. "Another significant vote will occur Oct. 17 by members of another CMAP panel that includes regional leaders, such as county chairman, and their decision will determine the fate of the project."
Read the full story: Illiana Expressway fails to get support from planning group
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