William Presecky reports in today’s Trib on an IDOT commissioned survey of far southwest suburban residents that revealed little passion for new freeways, and a sanguine view of growth:

Critics of the expressway are heartened by the survey results, which show “building new freeways or expressways” ranked fifth among the “top five solutions” chosen by respondents as the best for relieving traffic.

According to the poll results, 57 percent cited widening existing roads as the best solution to traffic congestion. Improving intersections, signals or turn lanes was ranked second with 34 percent, followed by better coordination and planning (28 percent) and building other new connecting roads (25 percent).

Building new freeways or expressways garnered 21 percent, according to the results.

“This survey dramatically reinforces our position that IDOT should focus on improving existing roads and adding new connections to meet current and future traffic needs,” said Jan Strasma, chairman of Citizens Against the Sprawlway.

Water quality was the top concern related to the effects of transportation improvements, followed by cost to taxpayers, air quality, loss of natural areas and loss of farmland.

Seventy-five percent said traffic congestion will get much worse in the next 10 years and many believe that residential construction and economic development have not been effectively coordinated with long-term transportation planning, Powell said.