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Evans out at Tollway

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Illinois

* Daily Herald…

The Illinois tollway’s embattled chairman Will Evans has resigned and will be replaced with a banking executive, officials said Friday. […]

Evans was appointed in early 2019 by Pritzker as part of reforms at the tollway that included hiring Executive Director Jose Alvarez following an uproar over patronage issues under the previous governor.

But clashes between the two men drew scrutiny from Illinois senators who held a hearing in October over a tollway reorganization instituted by Evans that several lawmakers said diminished Alvarez’s authority to run day-to-day operations.

Evans has not attended the December, January or February board meetings either in person or virtually.

Administration officials have said that Evans has been attending to a very ill family member.

* Press release…

Governor JB Pritzker announced his appointment of Dorothy Abreu as the new Illinois Tollway Board Chairwoman. Abreu is a senior vice president at PNC Bank with over 20 years of experience in financial services, significant public sector experience and an active track record of service to the community.

Illinois Tollway Board Chairman Will Evans announced his intention to step down from his role, effective immediately, and return to retirement after more than three years of service. During his tenure, the Tollway continued to deliver on a $14 billion capital program, expanded opportunities for minority contractors, and launched a historic amnesty program for Tollway customers which helped to substantially reduce outstanding and future fines on unpaid tolls.

“I am pleased to announce Dorothy Abreu as the new Board Chairwoman for the Illinois Tollway. I am confident her two decades of banking experience in the private sector and her impressive work with government entities and non-profit organizations will lend itself to continued growth and fiscal responsibility at the Tollway,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Chairman Evans led the Tollway to historic progress and leaves behind a stronger, more accessible, and more equitable Tollway system. He has been a valued partner over the past three years, and I wish him all the best on his well-deserved retirement.”

Abreu has enjoyed a long and successful career in the Illinois banking sector, with responsibilities spanning commercial lending, community development banking, and asset management. A graduate of North Park University, Abreu is currently a senior vice president for PNC’s Corporate and Institutional Banking group, where she leads the delivery of financial solutions and banking advisory services to public institutions and non-profit organizations in the state. In particular, she has worked with clients to manage pandemic-related disruptions and operational funding needs. She has also led financing for high-impact projects focused on driving economic development and affordable housing in Illinois’ low- to moderate-income communities.

“I am honored to serve as the next Tollway Board Chairwoman and CEO and am committed to building on the strong progress made over the past several years,” said Dorothy Abreu. “The Tollway is a state-of-the-art system with hundreds of miles of roadways connecting millions of customers to work, family, and their daily lives. With an eye towards strengthening collaboration, equity and transparency, I am eager to get to work to and provide our customers with the experience they deserve.”

Abreu has extensive experience serving on boards of several high-profile organizations. She is the current president of the Latino Policy Forum, a member of the board of directors of the Chicago Community Loan Fund, a member of the governing board of Chicago Commons, and a member of the board of directors of Chicago Habitat for Humanity.

Latino legislators appear to have won this battle.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:10 pm

Comments

Hey there, these tolls were supposed to be gone almost 50 years ago. We’ve already paid for these damn bonds at least 5 times over. Is there any IL politician who will say “End the IL Tollway”?

Comment by Old IL Dude Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:22 pm
This takes care of half of the problem…

Comment by Lincoln Lad Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:36 pm
So now a banking executive as Chair/CEO of a large transportation agency…the same question stands: What does the Executive Director do?

Comment by NIU Grad Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:41 pm
Old Il Dude
I think it was longer than 50 years. Ed Rosewell was involved with these Tollway Bonds when Adlai Stevenson was Governor before he ran for President against General Dwight Eisenhower in 1952.
Obviously Ed did not pay off the Bonds. No one ever talks about paying off Tollway Bonds now.

Comment by Back to the Future Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:43 pm
Things never really change at the tollway. Different clowns but the same circus. Lots of high paid government positions at the agency from the police all the way to the executive office and it’s in nobody’s interest at the tollway for any meaningful reform. Some years ago Pat Quinn appointed the first tollway inspector general. What a failure that office has been. Just more high paid positions so why truly rock the boat.

Comment by Bob Meter Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:47 pm
== these tolls were supposed to be gone almost 50 years ago. ==

So you’d rather they be maintained by IDOT? What about the bonds? As a non driver, I’d rather the roads be paid for by the people who use them as they are now - via tolls.

Comment by low level Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:49 pm
==As a non driver, I’d rather the roads be paid for by the people who use them as they are now - via tolls.==

Yes, I’d rather our roads be paid for by IDOT and everyone chips in. FYI — We pay for public transportation, too. Like, a lot. In FY 2015, taxpayers paid over $3B in public transit expenses.

Comment by Old IL Dude Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 1:57 pm
Hey Bob Meter, you do know the ISP patrols the Tollway, right? How are they in anyway involved in your so called ” circus “

Comment by 60153 Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 2:01 pm
love drama but glad some of it is gone. what would be even better is to dissolve the agency.

Comment by Amalia Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 2:09 pm
On the one hand, she appears to have very good qualifications. On the other hand, there appears to be a significant conflict of interest. From Crain’s last July:

Dorothy Abreu has been promoted to senior vice president and relationship manager for PNC Public Finance. Abreu will help lead the provision of capital solutions and tailored financial services to public sector and non-profit entities including the State of Illinois, the City of Chicago and its sister agencies, and other not-for-profit organizations. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in commercial banking in both sales and underwriting capacities.

Comment by Smalls Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 2:27 pm
This press release is confusing. Pritzker announces her as the new chairwoman. Then her quote says she is honored to serve as the next chairwoman and CEO. Which is it? There is a difference between being a board chair only and being the chair and the CEO.

Comment by Smalls Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 2:54 pm
So Pritzker reconstituted the tollway board and three years later we are back to square one. The day Evans voted on a contract from his former employee he should have been fired. Giving him 3 years was 3 years to much.

Comment by Long time Independent Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:06 pm
@ Smalls… she is “honored to serve as the next chairwoman and CEO.”

We are back to square one ..The battle continues with the CEO (E.D.) and chairperson.

Welcome aboard, now stay in your lane, Ms. Abreu. There is a reason why you were recently hired.

The Latino caucus will fight back… just sayin’

Comment by Pizza Man Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:08 pm
Look into Alvarez hiring a bunch of hacks before you claim you are fixing any problems

Comment by Drake Mallard Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:11 pm
===We pay for public transportation, too. Like, a lot.===

You’d rather have all those people in cars on the roads?

Comment by Anyone Remember Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:15 pm
==You’d rather have all those people in cars on the roads?==

No. But these bonds should be paid off and the Tollway Authority dissolved. Any new roads should be built and paid for with a NEW Tollway Authority. Get rid of the existing tolls once that road is paid.

Comment by Old IL Dude Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 3:31 pm
You get what you pay for. The bonds will never be paid off. Because…. guess what? As people use the roads they wear down and then they need to be fixed. So we can let them go or we can have a great system where you pay for exactly what you use.

Comment by DMC Friday, Feb 18, 22 @ 4:06 pm