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Article: DuPage County leader's star is rising // Observers see higher office for board chairman Franzen
- Article from:
- Chicago Sun-Times
- Article date:
- January 5, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1997 Chicago Sun-Times. (Hide copyright information)
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A proposal in 1993 to rebuild Chicago's Lake Street L line nearly
triggered a civil war at the RTA, where suburban board members
opposed the $300 million plan as vehemently as Chicago members
supported it.
But instead of hostilities, there was horse-trading.
Then-RTA Chairman Gayle M. Franzen used the renovation project
as a lever to help engineer a compromise that rebuilt the Lake;
Englewood; Jackson Park Green line and pried loose money to upgrade
suburban transit systems.
"When it came to the RTA, it was approved unanimously," Franzen
recalls proudly. "I'm not saying it happened overnight . . . but it
happened."
The story illustrates Franzen's cautious, cagey leadership
style, one ...