Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–October 18, 2013. U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly applauded members of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for today’s affirmative vote in support of the Illiana Expressway, a 47-mile expressway connecting I-55 in Illinois to I-65 in Indiana.
“I’d like to thank the MPO members for having the foresight to approve the Illiana Expressway project. Today’s vote is a validation of what we in the Southland have been saying all along—that our region has tremendous growth potential and that the Illiana is vital to that growth,” Kelly said. “I applaud the board for putting facts above politics in supporting this project, which will create tens of thousands of much needed jobs in the Southland and promote the expansion of regional economic development throughout South Cook, Will, and Kankakee counties.”
The congresswoman told the board before the vote:
“Chicago’s Southland is America’s ground zero for transportation innovation. The Illiana Expressway is a visionary and necessary project that will alleviate congestion and bring tens of thousands of jobs to the Southland.
“There’s been a lot of debate about the Illiana over the past year, some of it enlightening and constructive and some of it, quite frankly, disrespectful and utterly unproductive. At its core, the opposition to the Illiana is based on a longstanding bias against the Southland when it comes to infrastructure investment,” Kelly said.
“But the Southland is just as worthy of development, just as deserving of improved infrastructure as any other area of the region. We have the people and the businesses to not only support the Illiana, but who make the roadway a vital conduit to economic development in the area.
“Regional business leaders, labor leaders, political leaders of both parties from all levels of government – all of us have united in support of the Illiana. It’s a rare solidarity fostered by the great potential for regional growth that the Illiana represents.
“We need this road. We believe in this road. We have devised an innovative public private partnership to pay for this road. Vote yes for the Illiana, for a stronger Southland, and in turn for a stronger Illinois,” the congresswoman said.
Source: robinkelly.house.gov
