FEBRUARY 2009
V ILLAGER
Save the Date, Save Our Community!
SPECIAL EDITION
ELGIN O’HARE WEST BYPASS
IDOT PUBLIC MEETING
MARCH 11, 2009
With regard to our fights against O’Hare expansion, we have always said that the worst
possible impact to our community would be the proposed Ring Road expressway. And, we
were right.
w w w. e l k g r o v e . o r g
w w w. e l k g r o v e . c o m
Several years ago, the Village discovered two expressway plans prepared by the Illinois
Department of Transportation that would have devastated Elk Grove Village. These plans
called for the construction of a limited access expressway near Busse Road through the
heart of the Elk Grove Business Park. That expressway would have cost us hundreds of
businesses, thousands of jobs, and millions in tax revenue for schools, parks, libraries and
other governmental services.
Today, we must give IDOT credit. They have worked closely with Elk Grove to plan the
much needed Ring Road expressway. After studying 14 alternative plans for the past three
years, they have narrowed the options down to a select few. One possible option is positive
for you and Elk Grove’s future. The other options would be devastating for you and would
cause great harm to our community.
The options are as follows:
1. West Bypass North Connection “Alternate 203 - Option D” Proposal – Favored:
Construct an expressway on a 300-foot corridor east of Elmhurst Road on existing
O’Hare Airport property. The Ring Road expressway was planned for this location in
1984 and is the best location by far for an expressway. It relieves traffic congestion
while keeping businesses, jobs, infrastructure, and our tax base intact, and it includes a
full interchange at Elmhurst Road. In addition, it preserves the flow of traffic within
the Business Park by not terminating east/west roads and turning IL Route 83 (Busse
Road) in a limited access expressway.
2. Any Proposed Alignment That Uses IL Route 83 (Busse Road) – Unfavored: These
proposals would change IL Route 83 (Busse Road) into a limited access expressway like
I-90 or I-290. This plan results in the State condemning many Elk Grove businesses
and splitting our Business Park in half, which would have devastating impacts on the
flow of traffic within the Business Park. We would lose businesses, jobs, tax revenue for
the community (including schools, parks, and libraries), and it has great impact in our
ability to respond to emergencies east of Busse Road.
On March 11, IDOT will hold a public meeting at the Belvedere Banquet Facility, located
at 1170 W. Devon Avenue in Elk Grove Village. We need you to “VOTE” by providing
comments on the “FAVORED” plan above. This is your opportunity to influence the
location of the new Ring Road expressway.
You can help in two ways:
1. Sign a comment card stating your preference for the new expressway east of Elmhurst
Road. Please have your friends, relatives, neighbors, and other interested persons do the
same regardless of your age or where they live.
2. Join us for a rally at the Belvedere at 5:30 p.m. on March 11. After the rally, we will bring
all of the comment cards into IDOT, so they can see the magnitude of our preference.
What is the Elgin O’Hare West Bypass?
With the goal of improving transportation in the region, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) began
a study in 2007 to identify options for building an extension of the Elgin O’Hare Expressway, as well as a western
bypass of O’Hare International Airport.
Known as the Elgin O’Hare-West Bypass, the project includes preliminary engineering and environmental studies
of both the potential extension of the Elgin-O’Hare Expressway to the east as well as a potential western bypass
of O’Hare connecting I-90 and I-294. As part of this approach, IDOT is also embarking on a major effort to
gather ideas and suggestions for the Elgin O’Hare-West Bypass from residents, business, and civic leaders in the 24community study area.
Why Your Participation Is Important
The area included in the Elgin O’Hare-West Bypass study is roughly bound by three interstate highways - I-90, I-290
and I-294 - to the west of O’Hare International Airport. This area includes roughly 24 communities.
As such, Federal guidelines dictate that all stakeholders located within the study area share the same voice. This means
that people in Hanover Park, Bloomingdale, Elmhurst or Park Ridge could have influence on road improvements in
Elk Grove Village. For this reason alone, it is imperative that Elk Grove residents, business owners, employees, and
community organizations get involved.
In addition to other communities influencing the development within Elk Grove Village, it should also be noted
that their influence could also have a profound effect on the taxing revenue received by all the government agencies
within our community. Should any northern connection using IL Route 83 (Busse Road) be selected and constructed,
hundreds of businesses, thousands of jobs, and millions in tax revenue for schools, parks, libraries and other
governmental services will be lost. Although millions in tax dollars could be lost, the need for those services would
not. As such, the loss of this tax revenue would need to be made up, and this means large tax increases for those
remaining properties.
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When the Village first discovered the IDOT maps showing the road west of existing airport property, it was
determined that roughly $500 million in property tax base would be wiped out, as would $6 million in annual tax
revenues for Elementary School District 59 and High School District 214, which serve students not only from Elk
Grove Village, but also from (59)
Arlington Heights, Des Plaines,
Mount Prospect and (214)
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The map above shows two alternatives using IL Route 83 (Busse Road). The areas
in “BLUE” and “RED” would require the elimination of businesses and jobs for all
properties that the expressway touches. Furthermore, additional properties to the east and
west would be needed for right-of-way and in order to reconnect roadways that would
otherwise deadend.
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It was also determined that if
constructed, Elk Grove Village, Elk
Grove Park District and Elk Grove
Library would be devastated by an
estimated $6.25 million annual loss
of income.
THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE,
AND THIS IS WHY WE
NEED YOUR
PARTICIPATION!!!
Reasons to Support the West Bypass North Connection
“Alternate 203 – Option D” Proposal
Preserves 3,800 existing Elk Grove businesses and 100,000 associated jobs. Elk Grove Village has invested heavily
to ensure that the Business Park remains viable. In the past ten years alone, we’ve invested nearly $40 million through the
Industrial/Commercial Revitalization plan. Add to that all the investments in roads, watermain, and sewer lines over the
past 50 years, and that investment grows substantially.
With the implementation of a project of this magnitude, individuals tend not to care as the impact are viewed as being far
off in the future. Unfortunately this is not true. The study will lock in a corridor that may or may not be built. Even in
ideal conditions, it may take 5-10 years for the project to be built.
Businesses should be made aware that having a protected corridor for a highway has greater impacts than if the road is
built. Under the protected corridor, businesses will not be able to expand, renovate or plan for the future. They will live
with the knowledge that someday the highway construction would result in the purchase of their property. Property sales
and tax bases are damaged immediately, yet the benefits of a new highway facility are not realized. Businesses must realize
the future is now! While it seems so far removed, once the corridor is approved the negative impacts will begin.
As proposed, this plan would be constructed on the previously designated 300’ corridor along O’Hare Airport’s existing
western boundary. As such, the construction of the West Bypass North Connection “Alternate 203 - Option D” proposal
would NOT necessitate the destruction of the Elk Grove Business Park.
Maintain the existing tax base for local schools, parks, transit, and libraries. One of the most important features
of this plan is that it will preserve millions of dollars in tax revenue, which would otherwise necessitate monumental tax
increases by schools, park, and library districts as well as other government agencies.
Significantly improves the flow of vehicular traffic in the region. With two full interchanges – one at Elmhurst Road
for local traffic and another east of Elmhurst for expressway to expressway traffic – the ease and speed of getting onto
either I-90 or I-294 will be greatly enhanced. In addition, this proposal would alleviate congestion on our local roadways.
2 Full
Interchanges
I-90
I-90
Devon Ave.
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W
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West Bypass North Connection
“Alternate 203 - Option D”
on 300’ Corridor Located on
Existing Airport Property
Devon Ave.
IL Route 72
Elmhurst Road
Elmhurst Road
IL Route 72
Has the least operational impact upon
our local community. The construction
of any expressway along IL Route 83 (Busse
Road), would in essence divide our Business
Park in half. This division would negatively
impact how the Village delivers its services
in terms of Fire, Paramedic, Police, and
Public Works response times.
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Follows decade long plans as the appropriate
location for an expressway. This discussion
first came up in 1984 when they began planning
for the Elgin O’Hare Expressway and is again
presenting itself in 2009. The option that best
serves the needs of this community and the
region is the West Bypass North Connection
“Alternate 203 – Option D.”
Provides the long desired full interchange
at Elmhurst Road and I-90. For many
years, the elected officials of Elk Grove
Village have been lobbying the State and
Federal government for a full interchange at
Elmhurst Road and I-90. The West Bypass
North Connection “Alternate 203 – Option
D” fulfills this desire.
This newsletter is published by
the Village of Elk Grove Village
901 Wellington Avenue
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
Telephone: (847) 439-3900
TDD: (847) 357-4088
Craig B. Johnson, Mayor
Ann I. Walsh, Village Clerk
Raymond R. Rummel, Village Manager
TRUSTEES
Nancy J. Czarnik
Jeffrey C. Franke
Patton L. Feichter
Samuel L. Lissner
James P. Petri
Christine Prochno
The Village Hall is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday for payment of
water bills, local fines, pet licenses, vehicle stickers, and general Village information. In
addition, the Finance counter is open on the first Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m.
through noon, and the Engineering & Community Development counter is open on the
first Saturday of the months of May through September from 9:00 a.m. through noon.
Village Board meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:00
p.m. The floor is opened to the public at 8:00 p.m. for comments and questions.
How Can Your Voice Be Heard?
There are several ways in which you can make your voice heard by the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT).
Participate in the Village’s March 11 Rally to be held outside Belvedere Banquets, located at 1170 W. Devon
Avenue in Elk Grove Village. Please join us for a rally at the Belvedere at 5:30 p.m. on March 11. After the rally,
we will carry all of the comment cards into IDOT, so they can see the magnitude of our preference.
Should you need a ride to the March 11 Rally, shuttle buses will be taking people back and forth from the
following locations to the Belvedere Banquets facility:
• Landmeier Station - 900 Landmeier Road
• Sheila Ray Senior Center - 225 E. Elk Grove Boulevard
• Village Grove Apartments - 1130 Cheekwood (if needed parking is available at the Municipal Building,
Pavilion, or Library)
Attend the IDOT Public Meeting that is going to be held at Belvedere Banquets, located at 1170 W. Devon
Avenue in Elk Grove Village. This public meeting will run from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. IDOT is hoping for
as much public input as possible out of this meeting.
Sign the Letter of Support located in this newsletter and drop it off at one of the following locations:
• Elk Grove Municipal Complex - 901 Wellington Ave
• Elk Grove Municipal Complex - Drop Box
• Elk Grove Park District Pavilion - 1000 Wellington Ave.
• Sheila Ray Senior Center - 225 E. Elk Grove Boulevard
• Elk Grove Library - 1001 Wellington Avenue
• Bring it with you to the March 11 Rally and IDOT Public Meeting
Additional Letters of Support will also be made available at the above locations.
Submit Comments Online by visiting www.elginohare-westbypass.org - the Elgin O’Hare-West Bypass
website - and click on the “COMMENTS” section located at the top of the webpage.
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