Illinois Route 53 Land Expansion Alternative Use Task Force

The Illinois Route 53 Expansion Land Alternative Use Task Force was created in 2021 via House Joint Resolution 6 to study alternate uses for the proposed extension of Illinois Route 53 in Lake County. The study will include the following:

The cost, feasibility, and environmental impact of alternative uses of the expansion land, including any potential impact on flooding in the area,
The short and long term economic impact to the region, and
All options for funding alternative uses.

Legislation that created the task force.

Appointed Members of the Task Force

Administrative Support Staff
Dan Lewis, Advisor, Office of the Director
IL Department of Natural Resources
dan.p.lewis@illinois.gov
Senate President Appointee
Senator Melinda Bush, District 31 (Co-Chair)
Speaker of the House Appointee
Representative Dan Didech, District 59
Senate Minority Leader Appointee
Leader Dan McConchie, District 26

House Minority Leader Appointee
Representative Chris Bos, District 51 (Co-Chair)
Secretary of Transportation
Laura Mlacnik, Bureau Chief of Land Acquisition
Department of Natural Resources
John Rogner, Assistant Director
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Todd Rettig, Deputy Director
Lake County
John Wasik, Lake County Board, District 6
Lake County Stormwater Management
Marah Altenberg, Lake County Board, District 20
Village of Long Grove
Bill Jacob, Mayor
Village of Hawthorn Woods
Dominick DiMaggio, Mayor
Village of Mundelein
Steve Lentz, Mayor
Village of Grayslake
Rhett Taylor, Mayor
Midwest Sustainability Group
Barbara Klipp, Executive Director
Livable Lake County
Sam Beard, Staff Organizer
The Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter
Jack Darin, Chapter Director
Visit Lake County
John Maguire, Director of Community Outreach
Openlands
Stacy Meyers, Senior Counsel
Lake County Forest Preserves
Jessica Vealitzek, Lake County Board, District 1