U.S. Rep. Kelly Supports MPO's Support for Illiana Expressway

by Joseph Wiszowaty

CHICAGO |  U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL2nd) 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." Kelly said.

 

“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.

 

The Illiana Expressway has long been supported by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association along with many South Suburban Mayors who feel the project will provide economic development opportunity in conjunction with the Third Chicago Airport.

Lynwood Mayor Eugene Williams, in attendance at the Illinois Municipal League Conference in Chicago this evening, is one of many local the Mayors who supports the project.

 

The Illiana Expressway has been on the drawing board for many years now.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly