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| No quick fix for road with many owners | |
| Nov 22, 2007 | |
| Matt Rogina, Special to the Tribune | |
| Chicago Tribune | |
| Pertains to Northwestern, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, Palatine | |
| Two northwest suburbs are looking for federal or state funding to pay for repairs to a deteriorating stretch of road that is used by up to 1,000 commuters a day. But efforts to fix the street, known informally as Commuter Drive, have been slowed by questions over ownership. Rolling Meadows officials have long complained about the condition of the street, which links Rohlwing Road and the commuter train station that serves Arlington Park racetrack. "It's just in awful condition," Rolling Meadows Mayor Ken Nelson said at a City Council meeting last week. Nelson said potholes and lack of a shoulder are the main problems. The cost of fixing the road is not known. For years ownership of the road was in question, but a title search found it is divided among Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, the racetrack, the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Union Pacific Railroad. Repairing the road is an issue because Rolling Meadows has been approved for a $152,000 federal grant to fund construction of a bike path alongside Commuter Drive. Fred Vogt, Rolling Meadows' public works manager, said it doesn't make sense to build a new bike path without upgrading the road, which he said is used daily by 700 to 1,000 commuters. Engineering work for the bike path is scheduled to begin next year, with construction planned for 2009. "It would be far more logical to construct both road and bike path together," Vogt said. Rolling Meadows is getting support from Arlington Heights. "Arlington Heights is attempting to collaborate with Rolling Meadows to facilitate an upgrade to that facility," said Arlington Heights Village Manager Bill Dixon. Dixon said Arlington Heights is exploring sources of federal or state grants with Rolling Meadows. Rolling Meadows also was hoping for some financial support from Metra, but that does not appear likely. "Metra should be willing to support and fund that road," Nelson said. Metra officials have indicated that the commuter rail agency is not in the business of maintaining public roads. |
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