Governor Renames Circle Interchange in Honor

of Chicago's First and Only Female Mayor to Date

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today formally dedicated the "Jane Byrne Interchange" in downtown Chicago in honor of the woman who shattered glass ceilings in both regional and national politics by becoming the first woman to govern a major American city. Also known as the Circle Interchange, the meeting point of most of the city's major highways is being completely reconstructed as part of the state's largest ongoing road construction project.

"Jane Byrne is a daughter of Chicago who went on to break barriers and become this city's first and only female mayor," Governor Quinn said. "While leading the city, she fought tirelessly for Chicago's children and low-income communities. The Jane Byrne Interchange will help ensure that her legacy and lasting impact on the city of Chicago are never forgotten."

Jane Byrne was born and raised in Chicago, attending St. Scholastica High School and the University of Illinois at Chicago's Circle Campus. She first served in Chicago city government as Commissioner of Sales, Weights, and Measures. Byrne was elected Mayor of Chicago in 1979 and served until April 29, 1983.

Byrne's time as Mayor was marked by many firsts, including enacting the city's handgun ban, a first for a major American city, and becoming the first Chicago Mayor to march in the Gay Pride Parade, setting an example of inclusivity for other cities across the country. Mayor Byrne initiated the now famous Taste of Chicago as well as the development of Navy Pier and the Museum Campus, producing long term growth and economic development for the city.

The Governor today designated the "Jane Byrne Interchange" by proclamation. The interchange contains interstates 90, 94 and 290, and is currently undergoing a four-year renovation by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The interchange connects the Kennedy, Dan Ryan and Eisenhower Expressways and the Congress Parkway, facilitating travel for more than 400,000 vehicles daily.

The interchange is a vital regional and local hub for commuters, businesses and freight movement, and the ongoing $420 million reconstruction project will address congestion and improve traffic flow in the area. The reconstructed interchange will reduce traffic delays by at least 50 percent and save drivers five million hours annually. The improved traffic flow will lead to a savings of 1.6 million gallons of fuel per year.

The interchange was constructed between 1958 and 1962, and has outlived its design life according to several performance indicators on safety, infrastructure condition and congestion. The interchange experiences an average of 940 crashes per year. In 2010, the Federal Highway Administration and the American Transportation Research Institute identified this joining of most of Chicago's major highways as the number one bottleneck among highways crucial to the nation's freight transportation system. Of the more than 400,000 vehicles that use the interchange each day, about 33,000 are trucks.

EITA Meeting Held in Davenport

The Putnam Museum is hosting the general membership meeting of the Eastern Iowa Tourism Association on Wednesday, September 3rd.

To create the best possible welcome and to promote your business, the Putnam Museum will be pleased to distribute 100 of your promotional items or coupons to EITA members who attend that day.

The Eastern Iowa Tourism Association is the destination marketing organization for the 28 counties in eastern Iowa so hosting a meeting in the Quad Cities is a special marketing opportunity.

If you can provide promotional items or coupons, please contact Alice Loff at (563) 336-7296 or aloff@putnam.org

Cabela's King Kat Tournament Fishing Rodeo

The Quad Cities is hosting the Cabela's King Kat Western Championship on Sept. 19-20.  As part of that tournament, there is a Kids Fishing Rodeo on Sept. 20 from 9-11 a.m. at Sunset Marina.  We are requesting prizes or gift cards for the kids.  Please contact Ryan Merritt at 309-736-6825 or rmerritt@visitquadcities.com

(DES MOINES) - At his news conference this morning, Governor Terry Branstad and Iowa Department of Transportation Director Paul Trombino announced a new service which allows vehicle owners purchasing personalized or specialty registration plates to complete the process online. This new online application allows customers to apply for plates where and when it is convenient for them rather than using the paper application that has been in place for many years. The online process can be completed by customers in minutes, with typical application processing around one day, rather than the paper application process which can take up to 18 days.

View the Iowa DOT's Personalized Plate Application

The online product is another service from state government designed to increase the level of service and reduce wait time for Iowans.

Customers wishing to obtain personalized plates can now enter their personalization in the online system and immediately see if their desired combination is available. Plate fees vary depending on plate design and are shown in the system when a plate design is chosen.

The online process not only saves customers time, it reduces staff time by eliminating 14 paper processing steps. The online process will also eliminate postage costs, saving both the customer and the state money. In fiscal year 2014, the Iowa DOT processed 17,177 paper applications for specialty and personalized plates.

Here's how the online process works:

1.       The customer must have an Iowa driver's license or non-driver ID to complete the online process.

2.       Go to iowadot.gov/personalizedplates and enter information about the vehicle you are licensing and type of plate you are wanting.

3.       If the requested personalization and/or specialty plate requested are available, the online process will allow customers to see on-screen how their plate will look. The system will notify customers if their desired personalization and/ or plate are not available.

4.       Payment can be made online through the system using, Discover, MasterCard, or VISA. A $1.50 convenience fee will apply.

5.       The plate production time of 21 days remains the same for both paper and online processes.

6.       Customer will receive notification once plates are available for pick up at their county treasurer's office.  Current plates on the vehicle must be returned when the new plates are picked up.

All specialty and personalized license plate orders are subject to Iowa DOT approval.  Reasons for denial of an application include personalizations which are sexual in connotation; a term of vulgarity, contempt, prejudice, hostility, insult, or racial or ethnic degradation; recognized as a swear word; a reference to an illegal substance or to a criminal act; offensive or a foreign word falling into any of these categories; or those that conflict with the regular license numbering system.

This online process is available for any license plate that does not require a qualification for the vehicle owner (such as firefighter, EMS, veterans, amateur radio, or persons with disabilities). Applications for plates that require a certification must still be ordered through the mail or at a county treasurer's office. Complete information regarding personalized and specialty plates can be found online at http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ovs/plates/plates.htm

Standard design county numbered plates continue to be available at the customer's county treasurer's office.