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The Honorable Rod Blagojevich Governor of Illinois Springfield, Illinois Dear Sir: I have the privilege to work as a public coordinator for the Route 53 project. The IDOT engineers and the citizens have all been genuinely dedicated to this project, and to results that can benefit all. The attached letter and its signatures represents the concerns of the neighborhood leaders serving on the Context Sensitive Solution teams that I have worked with Route 53 is a unique highway in DuPage County. Between North Avenue and Osage Drive, the road bisects a scenic, residential environment with churches, parks, schools and nature preserves, serving primarily the residents of Glen Ellyn and Lombard. It currently functions as a residential collector for those two communities. The three Context Sensitive Design teams that are currently working with IDOT on different parts of the project corridor are trying to preserve their communities while enhancing transportation by allowing for multi-modality in the form of bike paths and sidewalks. The residents are working for road improvement designs that will preserve the ambience of their neighborhoods, and the quality of their environment. They also wish IDOT to comply with the standards of the DuPage County Countywide Stormwater and Floodplain Ordinance. Much progress has been made, but more needs to be done. The width of the corridor is a primary concern not only for "fit" but because of pedestrian, bicycling safety, and serious environmental impacts. Each team speaks for their section of corridor. Regardless of the cross section of Route 53, the design for the segment passing through their neighborhoods should represent the community's values. In that light, please note that the South CSS Team for Route 53 has additional concerns beyond any particular design. Specifically, they are most concerned about IDOT’s compliance with the County stormwater ordinance and the impact of Route 53 improvements upon the total traffic flow and volume in their area, especially in regard to Park Boulevard. They will submit an additional letter within the next several months to express their concerns in more detail. The residents understand the serious cost considerations your office is now dealing with. Because there is such strong opposition to a road design of large cross section for most of Route 53, they are aware that dropping the project completely is a possibility. Such action incurs its own additional costs as well, not the least of which are due to inflation. Three-lane cross sections in general are less expensive to build, and will still improve the route and allow for a balance of context and mobility. So, please give serious consideration to the three-lane alternative presented in the attached letter.The residents of Route 53 feel compelled to appeal to you, as Governor, to not only consider the motoring public, but to consider the goals of preserving the natural and residential environment for the betterment of all. They have chosen to do so by way of the attached petition. They believe their voices should be heard and cannot be ignored when expressed in such numbers. Sincerely, Mary Ann Kaufman CSS Advocate/ Route 53 CSS Teams State of Illinois
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