In an effort to have more community input and address concerns of residents,
the Illinois Department of Transportation established the Dan Ryan Task Force to
provide recommendations on the proposed Dan Ryan reconstruction plan.
The 30-member task force has been meeting weekly since its establishment to
hear expert testimony on economic impact, emergency response time, and safety
and health issues related to the Dan Ryan reconstruction. MPC Vice President of
External Relations Peter Skosey serves as an advisory member to the task force,
and at the second meeting (held on Feb. 6, 2004) raised concerns that the exit
closings could harm local economies and lengthen emergency response times.
Skosey referred to MPC’s Dec. 15, 2003 letter
to Secretary Martin urging IDOT to address the economic considerations of
roadway planning. He cited three examples: the effects of auto traffic on retail
drive-by revenue; impacts to trucking routes from nearby freight yards and added
time required to reach the expressway; and access to jobs at the Stockyards
Industrial park which has more than 10,000 employees. Skosey suggested the
agency look at Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS), the newest planning process
taking hold in state departments of transportation across the country, which
take into consideration economic considerations as well as other issues related
to planning near homes, schools, and transit lines. The Metropolitan Planning
Council has been working with IDOT in its efforts to incorporate CSS into its
standard roadway design process.
Task force members expressed concerns regarding the federally mandated
environmental impact analysis, and the beneficiaries of construction contracts
let to date. The task force elected Bernard Loyd and Rev. Walter Turner as
co-chairs. They established seven sub committees related to issues of concern
identified by task force members.
Secretary Martin remarked that “the Dan Ryan task force has a strong
understanding and diverse perspective on the issues facing the communities of
the South Side. This is evident from the leaders that were selected. We are
confident the task force will determine which plan is in the best interests of
public safety and the Dan Ryan communities.”
The Dan Ryan Task Force will continue to meet weekly at the Northeastern
Illinois University Center for Inner City Studies. For information on the next
meeting, contact Claudia Hernandez,
assistant to the chief of staff, Illinois Department of Transportation, at (312)
793-2448.