GARY | A coalition of urban clergy, rural residents and environmental advocates hope ending talk of the proposed Illiana Expressway will start discussions to rebuild the area's crumbling inner cities.

"Today we are making history in Northwest Indiana," said the Rev. Asher Harris, president of the Interfaith Federation, a faith-based organization that focuses on creating equity and destroying concentrated poverty by effecting change in public policy and institutions.

"This is the first time citizen groups from Lake County and Porter County -- north and south -- have come together to speak with one powerful voice," Harris said.

Interfaith, Save the Dunes Council, Dunelands Sierra Club and Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road held a joint news conference Thursday to discuss the matter.

Representatives from the organizations said they will focus their efforts during the rest of this year's General Assembly session on lobbying to defeat Senate Bill 1, which would authorize the Illiana tollway.

The Illiana Expressway initially was planned to loop from Chicago's southern suburbs east through Lake and Porter counties and north through LaPorte to Michigan City.

Gov. Mitch Daniels announced this week he no longer is pushing for the eastern section of the Illiana's route through Porter and LaPorte.

"We are in favor of increasing the alternatives to new highways through mass transportation," Harris said.

He said the alternatives to a new highway could include an extension of the South Shore commuter railroad and regional public bus routes.

Dave Ahlberg, president of Citizens Against the Privatized Illiana Toll Road and a resident of Porter County's rural Morgan Township, said he quickly learned through research that the issue has a broad scope.

"This was a much larger issue than just a road through my personal property," he said.

"I often drive through (Gary) -- quite often. And it is really heartbreaking to see the many boarded-up windows and closed businesses. If we are going to invest billions of dollars in Lake, Porter or LaPorte counties, there are many other things we need to pay attention to."