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* The US House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released its state-by-state breakdown of what the committee wants to invest in the stimulus bill. Illinois’ infrastructure investment is relatively modest at $1.8 billion. Progress Illinois has the breakdown…
Highways and Bridges: $1,001,675,645
Transit Capital: $352,823,530
Fixed Guideway Modernization: $191,779,080
Clean Water State Revolving Fund: $262,531,962
TOTAL: $1,808,810,217
Keep in mind that the US House Appropriations Committee has its own plan. No state-by-state breakdown has been released yet from that committee as far as I can tell. And there’s new pressure in the Senate to jack up the mass transit portion of the proposal.
posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 3:37 pm
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Was that a large “D’oh!” I heard from the Ravenswood bunker?
Comment by Vote Quimby! Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 3:40 pm
I would much rather have them approve an equivalent amount of personal income tax rebates, and return that money to where it came from, to be appropriated by the recipients as they determine it will best suit them individually.
Comment by Blago Sphere Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 3:50 pm
So much for being Illinois’ favored child - we desrve more than a modest share of teh economic stimulus package. Our buildings are crumbling, roads are deterioarating, and bridges are falling.
Our state infrastructure needs funding. I am at least heartened to see the federal economic stimulus plan will be put to good use.
Here’s to a state capital bill in 2009!
Comment by Black Ivy Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 3:50 pm
===I would much rather have them approve an equivalent amount of personal income tax rebate===
Because that worked so well last year.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 3:51 pm
Tax rebates produce less bang for the buck, and there’s the likelihood, or perhaps certainty, that a large chunk of tax relief would be used to pay down debt - not the intent of the stimulus.
And if you were thinking/hoping/wishing that an Obama presidency would result in a disproportionately large amount of the cash would be directed to IL, you simply have not been paying attention.
Comment by The Doc Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 3:57 pm
Blago Sphere,
Are you willing to turn around and donate your hypothetical tax rebate to a “Crumbling Bridge Fund” so your car doesn’t fall through a neglected bridge (or a chunk of a bridge fall on your car as you drive)? Even in the best case scenario, potholes or closed roads/bridges will make everyone’s drive times longer, which means more pollution, higher transportation costs and a drop in worker productivity.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch … or a free bridge.
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 4:14 pm
=== that a large chunk of tax relief would be used to pay down debt===
And to buy stuff made in China.
Comment by Rich Miller Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 4:15 pm
“And to buy stuff made in China.”
Or pay down credit card debt accumulated after buying stuff made in China at jobs that were shipped overseas…
Comment by Rob_N Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 4:20 pm
Remember this is only the infrastructure piece. Enhanced federal match for Medicaid, money for k-12 and higher ed, unemployment insurance, public safety, etc, are also part of the recovery package.
Comment by Kasha varnishka Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 4:31 pm
Although the highway and transit lobbies will be complaining that the stimulus falls far short of addressing their long term needs, this is a good shot in the arm, and a reasonable distribution of the available funds.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 4:38 pm
Are these the projects that needed to be shovel ready? If thats the case, Shumer should just shut up. He’s got over a billion ready to go for transit. Even in NY thats a lot of dough to start with.
Comment by Been There Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 4:49 pm
Better oil up the printing press at the Mint.
Comment by wordslinger Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 5:39 pm
Massive public works projects have many issues.
Has anyone looked at what kind of time line is involved in substantial public works projects? It takes years to do the design studies, environmental impact statements and right of way acquisition….. it will be years before these ideas get off the groud while we need action now.
How many of these infrastructure projects will be good ideas? (pork, boondoggles e.g. Boston big dig)
Next how about the skills needed to do the work? Do you think there is unlimited talent out there do do the engineering work, much less the actual construction? How many years to make and engineer?
Construction project of this magnitude will require oodles of new machinery. Will we buy US made equipment or ship the jobs overseas again?
Has anyone considered what will happen to the costs of commodities involved in this proposed construction orgy
Does anyone remember that we do not have any US manufacturers of large steel beams any more?
Do any US companies manufacture the busses, rapid transit cars or light rail vehicles?
The laws of unintended consequences will loom large in this program grasshopper.
Comment by plutocrat03 Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 6:17 pm
Plutocrat03,
All the discussion have focused on ready to go projects. These aren’t long term, “lets start the planning process now” type projects. They may take some time to bid out, but overall are ready to go.
Yes some of the benefits will go to manufacturers overseas, but so what, it is just the reality of our global modern world. That said, there are a lot of US companies that will make the goods and materials needed, like Caterpillar.
And the big picture is these improvements should help the US become more productive in the future. Instead of time wasted on highways, people will be able to get to work in a timely manner. That sounds good to me.
In regard to talent, there are a lot of engineers, architects,construction project managers etc. out of work who need projects.
Comment by Objective Dem Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 6:33 pm
{Because that worked so well last year.}
Which is why people come here looking for insight on state and local issues.
Comment by Blago Sphere Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 7:41 pm
{Are you willing to turn around and donate your hypothetical tax rebate to a “Crumbling Bridge Fund”…potholes or closed roads/bridges will make everyone’s drive times longer}
No I would not. METRA; it’s the only way to fly. I would not be troubled at all either if they raised their fares by as much as 30%, because right now I think it is an incredible bargain compared to the cost of driving and TVM.
Comment by Blago Sphere Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 7:46 pm
{there’s the likelihood, or perhaps certainty, that a large chunk of tax relief would be used to pay down debt}
The single largest contributing factor to the economic melt down is that people became over-extended. Reducing their debt is a good thing, because even if credit loosens up they will not be able to borrow themselves out of trouble.
Comment by Blago Sphere Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 7:52 pm
{And to buy stuff made in China}
You mean like the iPhone?
People spending their own money their own way really isn’t such a bad concept.
Comment by Blago Sphere Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 7:58 pm
LOL Blago Sphere, what a great name.
Comment by Kevin Fanning Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 8:01 pm
{LOL Blago Sphere, what a great name.}
It looks to have a limited shelf life however and the expiration date seems to be rapidly approaching.
Comment by Blago Sphere Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 8:29 pm
The US Senate Dems have taken some rightful criticism from the R’s that the stimulus is not focused enough on the near-term, and they are now working to fix it to front-load the stimulus requirements. “Shovel ready” means under construction this summer with at least half the available funds, with a second wave no later than next summer.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Thursday, Jan 22, 09 @ 9:38 pm
$1 billion for highways and bridges? Not really that big of a deal. That’s about 1/2 of an average annual program for IDOT. Granted it is greatly appreciated and will prove to be a decent start at getting our infrastructure back on track. But a “construction orgy” it is not.
Comment by Cornerfield Friday, Jan 23, 09 @ 12:15 am