Belleville Journal
Wednesday, Sep. 29 2004
Gateway Connector vital for area

To the Editor:

Southwest Illinois is an increasingly vital part of the St. Louis metropolitan
region's social, economic and political landscape. This is abundantly evident
in both positive and negative trends and developments. Growth, in population
and the number of households, is one such positive indicator, contributing to
the region's vitality and promise.

When a community or region grows it faces challenges and opportunities; so too
do its neighboring communities. The Home Builders Association applauds the
Illinois Department of Transportation and the leaders of towns and villages in
the path of Illinois Route 158 "Gateway Connector" corridor for their
forward-thinking planning and support of this vital project. This important
transportation project stands to be a model. Planners re looking at the needs
of today, projecting future needs, and projecting the path for a roadway that
is critically needed now, but won't be built for another 15 to 20 years. This
approach will save taxpayers and property owners tens millions of dollars, as
the Governor's Parkway in Edwardsville is now doing.

Admittedly, some property owners will fell their rights are being overlooked.
Their legitimate concerns are real and important. If handled with compassion
and fairness, these few should come out well. Unfortunately, this project has
become a cause that many have unfairly criticized to promote their own selfish,
no-growth agendas. Construction of the Connector is not the death kneel for
communities in the American Bottoms, though some would have us believe that.
This area will see hundreds of millions of transportation dollars spent on
construction projects there. Stopping opportunity ‘over there' does not
guarantee it will show up ‘over here'.

The connector is as vital for the region as is the new Mississippi River
Bridge, a refurbished McKinley Bridge, the re-alignment of Route 3/I-64, the
extended I-255 and Route 67 projects, or new I-255 ramps in Dupo. They all
serve local needs, relieve existing congestion, create new economic development
opportunities, and link us more directly to a larger region that desperately
needs to become more competitive. The real challenge lies in how government
leaders respond to these opportunities.

Sincerely,

Jerry Rombach
Executive Officer
Home Builders Association