Monday’s vote by the Indiana Senate fast tracking the Illiana Toll Road is disturbing but not unexpected, according to Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road (CAPIT).

“Today the Indiana Senate approved, without any proof of need and in the face of serious objection from the residents of Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties, a bill that gives the governor unchecked power to make a deal with a private, for-profit company that would evict thousands of Indiana residents from their homes and farms,” said Dave Ahlberg, CAPIT organizer.

“The amendment by Senators Tallian and Rogers to create an ‘oversight committee’ was simply too little, too late,” Ahlberg said. “This oversight committee would have no real power to do anything but make non-binding recommendations.”

He said that three public input sessions were held almost simultaneously in the three Northwest Indiana counties on Jan. 20. Despite very short advance publicity, the turnout was large, with more than 500 citizens showing their overwhelming opposition to the Illiana Toll Road.

“The senators disregarded the almost unanimous opposition. Instead, they have listened to opportunistic developers who see only the profits that they would gain from the Illiana Toll Road,” Ahlberg said.

“With their vote today, the senators have shown that they can be influenced by the strong-armed tactics of the governor’s office to the detriment of the citizens of Indiana. We can only hope the House of Representatives does not follow their example,” he added.

Former Porter County Council member Laura Blaney, another CAPIT member, said the Illiana Toll Road plan released by Gov. Daniels is much more sweeping than any previous proposal publicly revealed.

“It’s an absolute travesty that the Senate has given Gov. Daniels complete authority to forge ahead with a project that will take thousands of people’s homes, histories, lifestyles, and even livelihoods away through eminent domain,” Blaney said. “This power was granted with no concrete proof whatsoever that the enormous sacrifices of these citizens will benefit the public good.”

“The citizens fighting the Illiana Toll Road have proceeded in a thoughtful manner, respectful of the legislative process,” Blaney added. “Unfortunately, our leaders have not treated the citizens with the same courtesy. Shoving through a major transportation proposal without the benefits of an unbiased, advance study is bad public policy. Intentionally dividing the citizenry by dangling incentives to some over others is immoral. I, for one, expected better from our leaders.”

Andy Vasquez, a CAPIT member and farmer, said many farms have been in families for generations. “It is not only where we live but also our source of income. And for many, their only source of income,” he said.

Vasquez noted that the state will compensate monetarily for the taking of the land, but the money will not equal in value what could be purchased elsewhere, since farm land is not a renewable or readily available item.

“In many cases, it has truly taken blood, sweat and tears to keep the American family farms in the hands of the American family,” he said. “The bottom line is, once our farm land in Indiana is gone, it can not be replaced by other Indiana farm land. Our resource for new fuels and produce production will be lost.”

CAPIT members question why the State Senate has approved the privatization financing scheme for the Illiana Toll Road, when there are so many unknowns as to the need, the feasibility and the overall impact.

“With an Illiana Toll Road, how much additional truck traffic will pass through Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties as a result? How will the additional truck emissions impact our non-attainment status? What, if any, restrictions will be placed on the transport of nuclear waste and other hazardous cargo? How will the destruction of 16,000 acres of farmland affect Indiana’s goal of become a leading ethanol producer?” Ahlberg asked.

CAPIT member George Malis said that the Illiana Toll Road is part of the planning for the proposed Peotone airport. “The Illiana will clearly hurt the economic development of Gary, Hammond and other northern communities by promoting the Peotone Airport over the Gary-Chicago Airport. We suspect it will kill the Gary airport’s chances at any meaningful expansion,” he said.

CAPIT member Jane Nagel pointed out that that last year Indiana citizens were strongly opposed to the 75-year lease of the Indiana Toll Road to a Spanish-Australian consortium.

"The same strategy is now at work with S.B. 1. The governor wants to get the bill passed quickly before lawmakers and citizens can provide any meaningful scrutiny,” Nagel said. “But unlike the Toll Road, the Illiana is a vast new expressway that will result in thousands of people being forced from their homes and their farms against their will. Will the operator of the Illiana Toll Road be a foreign firm? If so, a foreign company will be in control of not just the Illiana, but also the Indiana Toll Road and the Chicago Skyway.

Pat Duggan, another CAPIT member, said the attitude of state leaders suggests that citizen knowledge and input is insignificant. “However, we as voters are accepted as rational and informed when we elect our leaders,” she said. “We should not be put in the position to prove why our lives and property should not be taken from us. This political attitude is shameful.”

Dan Whitten, the president of the Porter County Council and an attorney assisting CAPIT, said: “The Daniels’ Illiana Speedway is on the fast track, having been pushed through the Senate. As is the norm for our governor, this is privatization without public concern, involvement or input.”

CAPIT will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Porter County Expo Center. Anyone who would like to post a “No Illiana” sign may request one by calling (219) 464-3830 or (219) 462-7678. For more information, see www.no-illiana-tollroad.com

Posted 2/13/2007