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IDOT warns of doom for I-55 toll lanes

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Illinois

Springfield’s budget stalemate may be claiming a major new victim: a generally well-received plan to expand capacity on the congested Stevenson Expressway (I-55) by adding two new toll lanes in its median strip.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration floated the plan more than a year ago and has had what it termed positive discussions with at least 18 construction groups interested in bidding to build and operate the toll lanes.

But the General Assembly has not given needed approval, and in an interview today, Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn said time is running out on the plan, which would add toll lanes on a 25-mile stretch between I-355 and the Dan Ryan Expressway.

“We are reaching the crunch point in this project,” Blankenhorn said. “If we wait much longer, it’s simply not going to happen.” […]

“We met with 17 builder groups in October, and this matter came up repeatedly in those conversations,” Blankenhorn said. The companies are worried about spending money amid “political risk.”

The holdup is Speaker Madigan, who apparently wants a more detailed plan even though five House committee hearings have been held on the project.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 9:37 am

Comments

I waste three hours a day stuck in traffic on our highways. I would pay a small fortune to have our roads work better. If solutions to our congested roadways get held up due to this political war I’ll be unforgiving in my rage.

Comment by Not It Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 9:43 am
Turnabout. Rauner wants Turnaround Agenda items before a budget, holding the state hostage. Madigan now has something Rauner wants. Maybe it will be a part of some grand-bargain hostage exchange.

Comment by DuPage Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 9:50 am
When a large portion of the Stevenson was rebuilt around 2000, they lost a golden opportunity to add capacity at that time.

Comment by City Zen Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:05 am
I actually wish the Tollway would EXPAND into the Metro East and other areas close to larger metro areas downstate. Some areas around Bloomington and Springfield really need work, and there are areas in Madison and St. Clair Counties that could use some serious upgrades as well. Take advantage of the high-traffic sections in key counties and alleviate the strain of deferred and necessary maintenance.

Comment by Team Sleep Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:09 am
It’s a bad plan, so it should fail.

If you want to add lanes, add lanes. No need to make them tolls. But there are also ways to make the existing lanes flow better.

Comment by Odysseus Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:11 am
@CityZen, rumor was RM Daley nixed the lane expansion as he feared ridership along the Orange Line would decrease. Most of the commuters on I-55 now come as far as Joliet, so I never saw the logic there.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:18 am
Odysseus- please explain why it is a bad plan. Please tell us your plan, and please share how you would fund your idea.

It is worth noting that the current lanes would remain untolled.

Comment by Not Itody Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:47 am
I-55 expansion was blocked by Daley when there was a push to expand and have Diamond lanes during rush hours. he cited it as punitive to people who drive by them self? It should have been at least 4 lanes out to 355 and or beyond? And would have been around 10 years ago if not for this blockage. Meanwhile the southwest suburbs keep getting shorted.

Comment by NorthsideNoMore Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 10:55 am
I live along the I-55 corridor and I am not for this. I do not believe it will work as they suggest and will create more, not less congestion.

Comment by Michael Westen Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:32 am
Looks like the private trade unions would rather see their folks unemployed than press Madigan to allow this project to go to the next step.

Comment by phocion Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 11:51 am
If you watched those hearings, you’d know IDOT never provided actual answers to real questions coming from residents and legislators. Their answer was always “we don’t know” because they hadn’t spoken with people who would want to bid on the project. Now that they have, those answers should be available.

Drivers should know how this will work. The plan doesn’t magically create 2 new lanes. Will the private contractor maintain the 2 new lanes or all of the lanes? Will the State lease these lanes or sell the lanes? These are important questions that should be answers. My guess is ultimately the State will need to turn over all of the I-55 lanes to a private contractor.

Comment by thoughts Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:04 pm
Another option might be to have the Tollway build and manage the extra toll lanes, and let IDOT continue to do the free lanes. Of all the state agencies, they are in a unique cash-flush situation, and don’t need to make a “profit” like the developers do, they just need to break even.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:15 pm
==- Six Degrees of Separation - Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:15 pm:

Another option might be to have the Tollway build and manage the extra toll lanes, and let IDOT continue to do the free lanes. Of all the state agencies, they are in a unique cash-flush situation, and don’t need to make a “profit” like the developers do, they just need to break even.==

At one hearing IDOT said the Tollway didn’t want it.

Comment by thoughts Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:19 pm
Yet another tax on the working poor and middle classes.

Comment by blue dog dem Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:25 pm
==At one hearing IDOT said the Tollway didn’t want it.==

That is, Rauner doesn’t want the Tollway to do it. He wants to show off for the cool kids that he can do public-private partnerships. If the Tollway took a pass because it doesn’t make fiscal sense, then why would a private developer do it?

Comment by phocion Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 12:39 pm
“We are reaching the crunch point in this project,” Blankenhorn said. “If we wait much longer, it’s simply not going to happen.”

While a lack of action may be a temporary setback, what would prevent a similar plan from happening at a later date? I can’t imagine the median is going to disappear.

Comment by Pelonski Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:06 pm
Tollway will be in charge but some 1%er will get moohla ….regular dudes will still fet stuck and get 2 + years of condtruction headaches

Comment by Annonin' Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:09 pm
=At one hearing IDOT said the Tollway didn’t want it.= This may be due to IDOT having limitations on what it can award in liability issues. The Tollway has no such limitation.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 1:29 pm
- Tollway will be in charge but some 1%er will get moohla … -

All the more reason for Randy to support it, another potential client for his consulting business when he leaves.

Comment by Daniel Plainview Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:05 pm
“team Sleep” you got that right let some of those downstate people a little more like we do in Chicago metro.

Comment by scott aster Friday, Jan 20, 17 @ 2:49 pm