FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
August 25, 2009

Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630/407-6022

Caroline Roth
630/407-6033

SCHILLERSTROM HAILS SOTO PARTICIPATION AS WEST O'HARE CORRIDOR IMPLEMENTATION TEAM MEETS

DU PAGE COUNTY -- DuPage County Board Chairman Bob Schillerstrom is heralding the appointment of Bensenville Village President Frank Soto as Co-Chairman of the West O'Hare Corridor Implementation Team (WOCIT) as a giant step toward the realization of Western Access to O'Hare International Airport.

"This is a giant step for the O'Hare Modernization Project and particularly Western Access," said Schillerstrom.  "Having Frank Soto and the Village of Bensenville at the table is a gigantic step forward and I am confident that by working together, we can continue to move forward and ensure Western Access becomes a reality." 

On Monday, WOCIT met to begin planning their next steps on moving forward and to gain a consensus on both the Illinois Department of Transportation's plans and financing for Western Access. 

"I want to thank Chairman Schillerstrom for offering Bensenville this opportunity.  This group has done a tremendous job in developing a vision that will maximize benefits for our region," said Soto.  "Bensenville has a new commitment to regional collaboration and we look forward to working with everyone to fulfill this exciting vision.  The transportation and transit improvements along the Western O'Hare corridor offer unequalled prospects for economic development and I hope to position Bensenville businesses and residents to fully realize those opportunities."

Soto is replacing Gigi Gruber from Itasca, who opted not to seek re-appointment.

WOCIT is an alliance of public entities and business and labor leaders interested in promoting efficient, logical and beneficial transportation, land use and economic development solutions related to the O'Hare Modernization Program.  WOCIT seeks input from and advises its members on matters critical to the corridor including funding, surface transportation, transit, land use and economic development. WOCIT works to build community and agency support for future programs in the corridor and coordinates the efforts of individuals and groups to speak in a unified, consistent, and persistent way to express that support.