HJ0133 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0133 LRB100 21660 MST 38930 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois Bicentennial is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Illinois Tollway to celebrate and commemorate our State's 200th birthday and leave a lasting legacy by renaming Illinois Route 390 as "The Illinois Bicentennial Memorial Tollway"; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Route 390 is considered a Project of National and Regional Significance by the U.S. Department of Transportation; the project represents a fiscally responsible approach to addressing the area's diverse travel needs which include improving travel efficiency, providing western access to O'Hare International Airport, creating opportunities for jobs and economic development, enhancing multi-modal connections, and reducing congestion; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Route 390 Tollway leads the way to one of the nation's busiest airports, O'Hare International Airport; it provides direct access to interstate highways, transit facilities, major freight hubs, and distribution centers; with the support of a Local Advisory Committee, communities help guide the progress on this Project of National and Regional Significance; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Route 390 Tollway was completed in four years using sustainable construction practices, including the reuse and recycling of all existing pavement removed from the old Elgin O'Hare Expressway; and

WHEREAS, Through a collaborative partnership, the communities and counties along the corridor have been engaged throughout every stage of the project's implementation; this major infrastructure project will bring access and economic benefits to local communities and the region, while also creating an aesthetically pleasing corridor to support collective goals of the partners; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Tollway takes its role as an environmental steward seriously; on the Illinois Route 390 Tollway, all existing pavement was removed, reused, and recycled within the project; more than 3,000 new trees and 5,000 shrubs were planted throughout the corridor; the Tollway implemented innovative water quality management practices for Illinois Route 390 in partnership with the DuPage River Salt Creek Work Group and adjoining communities; and

WHEREAS, Illinois Route 390 is leading the way in creating new growth opportunities by creating 127 square miles of economic development opportunity in the area west of O'Hare International Airport; the vision is to create economic opportunities and provide opportunities for employment for the citizens of the State of Illinois; Illinois Route 390 provides a gateway to future economic opportunities as we move into the next century; and

WHEREAS, At the east end of the corridor, with the completion of I-490 connecting the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-294), improvements in the area will be transformed for the City of Chicago, DuPage County northeastern Illinois, and the entire nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the entirety of Illinois Route 390 as the "Illinois Bicentennial Memorial Tollway" in recognition of our State's 200th birthday; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name "The Illinois Bicentennial Memorial Tollway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be distributed to the Chairman of the Board and the Executive Director of the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority and Governor Bruce Rauner.