* Adding highway lanes doesn’t usually reduce congestion. Instead, adding capacity tends to attract more traffic, but that’s good for creating business opportunities, especially in a congested trucking corridor like this one.
Press release…
Gov. Bruce Rauner today was joined by legislative leaders and local elected officials to announce a legislative resolution that would allow the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to pursue adding managed lanes to Interstate 55 under a private-public partnership. By seeking out a P3 agreement, the state could deliver the project benefits more quickly and at a reduced cost.
“By using existing resources to leverage private investment, we can build the type of infrastructure that allows Illinois to better compete in the 21st century,” Gov. Rauner said. “This is an innovative project that will create jobs, improve the region’s quality of life and show that Illinois is open for business.”
The I-55 managed lanes project would add at least one lane in each direction to a critical travel corridor between Interstate 355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway) and Interstate 90/94 (Dan Ryan Expressway). The 25-mile section accommodates 170,000 vehicles a day, but suffers from long, unreliable travel times, resulting in frustrating commutes for workers and increased costs for the delivery of goods and services.
Options for the additional lanes currently being explored include tolled and untolled carpool lanes and express tolling lanes. The state will complete the federal environmental studies later this year to identify the preferred option.
A 2011 state law allows IDOT to build, finance, operate, and maintain highway projects using public-private partnerships, as long as the General Assembly adopts a resolution in support of the project. That law is modeled on best practices from across the country and includes opportunities for public hearings and input. The resolution introduced today would allow IDOT to further explore a P3 for the I-55 project and commence the procurement process. While managed lanes have been successful in other states as P3s, the I-55 project would be a first for Illinois.
“Managed lanes are truly an expressway within an expressway – one more option that will make travel more convenient for everyone who uses I-55,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “This project signals a new way of doing business at IDOT and a model for improvements throughout our system.”
“Regardless of the time of day, there is congestion along the Stevenson Expressway. Not only is it a source of regular frustration for drivers, including myself, it can be a dangerous situation for both motorist and passengers,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin. “What we are proposing today would give IDOT leeway to further explore the possibility of using private funds to keep the I-55 Congestion Relief Project alive and moving forward.”
“Relieving the congestion on this stretch of I-55 must be a priority for the state of Illinois,” said Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno. “However, we must also recognize the state must be creative in addressing our transportation challenges. This is an innovative approach that has been successful in other states and should be explored here.”
“This region has seen explosive growth in the past decade, but that has increased traffic on the Stevenson,” said Sen. Martin Sandoval, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. “Allowing IDOT to explore a public-private partnership will be a win for taxpayers and drivers. I stand with Governor Rauner to find new ways to relieve congestion on this important corridor for Illinois.”
Using a P3 on this project could save taxpayers an estimated $425 million in construction costs. Possible toll revenues from the project and P3 financing sources would be available to pay for construction, operation, and maintenance costs. Construction could start as early as next year and wrap up in 2019.
It’s good to see the governor holding a bipartisan press conference for a change. And one of Sen. Sandoval’s two House members is none other than House Speaker Michael Madigan. Hopefully, that’s a positive sign.
Your thoughts?
- Stones - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:40 am:
Worth exploring and would be easier to pass the required resolution if the Governor and Speaker had a better relationship. We’ll see how this takes shape.
- cdog - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:41 am:
This wreaks of elitism.
sick.
- AC - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:41 am:
Was the state “closed for business” before but it’s “open for business” now?
- Cable Line Beer Gardener - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:44 am:
I swear at yesterdays news conference he said Bidness. Please, that guy needs to spend some serious money on a speech and diction coach.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:44 am:
Turn the Cicero Avenue corridor into a crosstown expressway. Better yet, a tollway - Chicago needs the money!
- out of touch - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:47 am:
This is a positive step toward helping businesses and attracting people to Chicago. Hopefully he won’t inject his typical machismo poison pills and actually make some progress.
- thunderspirit - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:48 am:
I don’t really object to the project.
On the other hand, Governor Rauner’s proclivity for theft from our neighbor to the North continues. First ideas, now phrases.
http://blog.rockrealtywi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Wisconsin.jpg
- Union Leader - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:49 am:
Another tollway? Where is all the money from all of the other tollways?
Didn’t Wisconsin Governor Walker use the phrase, “open for busines” when referring to his state? Look at Wisconsin now.
- My New Handle - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:50 am:
Of course, there will be total transparency on where the private partners are getting their money, how those partners are chosen, and how the residents of Illinois will benefit in both dollars and time. And that Rauner and his business associates will have no personal monetary benefit. It smells bad already.
- Blue dog dem - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:52 am:
Another tax on the poor and middle income classes. What’s next? Tax increases on cigs,pop, and beer?
- hisgirlfriday - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:52 am:
Where’s the text of the resolution and the almost certain poison pill that eliminates prevailing wage requirements on the project?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:52 am:
Living where I do, I can travel to I-88 or I-55 when I head into the big city. This may have me choose 55 more often now.
This is governing. This is cooperation, leadership, looking to be innovative and completing the task.
This is a great sign of actual governing being done.
Well done, all.
- Managed Lane - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:55 am:
I think it’s a great idea. I 55 is terribly congested. It gives you an option to get through there without waiting all night, or morning. Do it.
- FPJ - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:56 am:
Given that we already have a public agency that handles toll roads, why would they go with a private partner rather than ISTHA?
As far as P3s go, this one won’t be as bad as the parking meter deal, given that there is built in “competition” from the remaining free lanes. But it seems like working with an established agency, with big economies of scale, would be better.
While the tollway may not be perfect, a drive around the region demonstrates that they are taking much better care of their facilities than IDOT is….
- Earnest - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:56 am:
It’s the kind of thing we had hoped for from candidate Rauner and never got–good news. Took my mind right off the course of intentional hurt and destruction which has marked his tenure so far in the office.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:57 am:
The technology of smart cars, along with congestion pricing, will turn transportation upside down over the next 30 to 40 years. And this is just one small step in that direction. Elitism of a congestion priced lane? People will find a way to pay for things that are worth it to them, and will avoid things that are not. Time is money, to all strata of society, and there are ways to make things fair to low income groups if society so chooses.
- NixonHead - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:57 am:
It’s true, adding more lanes only reduces congestion temporarily, but it does add capacity. The only way to really reduce traffic (and it’s still not perfect) is to do congestion pricing for toll lanes. Similar to Uber surge pricing but for lanes on a roadway. If it costs to much in time and money to drive, people will seek an alternative if possible.
- FPJ - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 11:59 am:
To the elitism comments:
Yes, there are some equity concerns from the so-called Lexus Lanes, but they also provide everyone with a choice. You can still use the free lanes just like you used to, or you can pay to get into the free-flowing lane (if they manage it with a variable toll, it should always be free flowing). Even low-wage works would find that worth using now and then if it meant not being late to work, school, etc.
- All the king's men - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:04 pm:
Right now I say any step forward even one that may mean going hand in hand with questionable business partners is good. I would like to see how revenue is going to be managed.
- Roadrager - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:05 pm:
I am going to be charitable, and call the governor oblivious here. He thinks he can build four extra lanes, 25 miles long, and have them up and running under the authority of a new P3 in three years’ time? Even if magical unicorns spread pixie dust over the General Assembly and greenlight this thing tomorrow, by the time you get the environmental impact studies, public meetings, land acquisition, and get someone private onboard to coordinate the engineering studies, construction contracts, and permits, you’re not putting your ceremonial golden shovel in the dirt until spring of 2018 at the earliest.
And if those lanes do come to pass, you’re still not getting the truckers to drive in them, and they’re one of your biggest sources of congestion. And the bankruptcy of the Skyway ($4.50 to drive 7 miles!) indicates many other drivers probably wouldn’t be hopping over, either.
Look at the I-90 tollway. They’re adding one lane in each direction between Elgin and 294, which is about 23 miles. The actual, physical construction on that is taking three years, and that’s without any questions of where, exactly, the money would come from. And I-90’s got a lot more wide open space to expand and more ground-level pavement than I-55 does.
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
==Turn the Cicero Avenue corridor into a crosstown expressway. Better yet, a tollway - Chicago needs the money!==
No.
Lake County has lost quite a few corporate headquarters to Chicago of late. Hint: It aint because driving in the city is easy and efficient.
Maybe freeing up some infrastructure for regional public transit (which is what just about every single private sector tech company is looking for in site selection) would be a better use of time spent by the Superstars.
- Ghost - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:08 pm:
wondered for uears why we hadnt done more toll roads, especially around large areas like Chicago. helps encourage use of public transportation or car pooling, and releives congestion. since its a paymper use sustem in theory tou have revenue sourced for repairs…. the more use the more money to fix things.
my own add ons, i would require a certain level of upkeep, have the state collect a rental type fee so it gets to wet its beak a little every year, and look at allowng tollways have car only lanes that can have higher speed limits
- Ghost - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:09 pm:
autoban….
- Up North - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:13 pm:
=Lexus Lanes=
Register your vehicle and the price of use should be a percentage of your income. Time is money to all with the same pain/gain ratio. Think of the potential cash!
- Railrat - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:14 pm:
No PLA? = DOA !
- anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:27 pm:
It sounds like a plan to add tollway lanes in the Chicago area, which already has almost all of the state’s tollway miles.
- Bogey Golfer - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:28 pm:
@FJP. IDOT and Tollway design criteria are slightly different. The reason being the unlimited liability the Tollway can incur. So both agencies cannot co-own a highway.
- Annonin' - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:32 pm:
Guessin’ we don’t care about charging tolls on the interstate highway system. This is a $uper$tar idea if there ever was one
Much better than announcin’ the Rt3 53 extension through 1%er-ville. Our friends at the Club in Long Grove would smokin’ hot if we did that.
- Jack Stephens - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:41 pm:
@annonin:
I agree.
Why not make Lake Avenue from the Edens to Sheridan an 8 lane expressway.
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:41 pm:
Better be doing only inbound lanes or he will just be providing an escape path for everyone fed up with his governing style.
- Huh? - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:48 pm:
Congestion pricing is an idea that has been around for years. The best example I can think of is in London England.
The idea of an HOV/toll lane on I55 has been around for a few years too.
None of this is new, just taking a while to get implemented.
I think this will also require federal legislation to allow tolls to be charged on federal aid roadways.
- Tone - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 12:55 pm:
Great, the more tolls the better. User fees are the best tax possible.
That and idiot fees aka, lotteries.
- FPJ - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:04 pm:
@Bogey Golfer: Interesting. I wasn’t aware of that. Would it be possible for the Tollway to operate and maintain a facility owned by IDOT? At that point, one might ask “why bother?”, but I still would think that the Tollway could do it more efficiently than a one-off, P3 company.
- Scott Summers - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:06 pm:
No suggestion here that public transit be in the mix.
It should.
Right now, Pace is running buses along the I-55 shoulder. http://www.pacebus.com/sub/vision2020/expressway_brt.asp Surely these buses would be accommodated in the new lanes.
Rail-transit-in-the-median is a highly successful approach that Chicago pioneered over fifty years ago (i.e., along the Dan Ryan and Eisenhower and Kennedy Expressways.)
Accordingly — how about a rail spur along I-55 that would intersect with the CTA’s Orange Line (which currently ends at Midway Airport?)
You’re right. That’d be way too expensive.
So instead — how about gondolas?
Yes. Gondolas.
And no, it’s not my idea: New York City is contemplating them right now. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/gondolas-new-york-subway-l-train_us_5697c4bbe4b0b4eb759d627e
There’s a lot to like about gondolas. They’re less expensive to build per mile than rail. Very little land acquisition is required: apart from the stations, one only needs footprints for the towers.
And oh, by the way, gondolas-as-public-transit already exists. http://gondolaproject.com/2010/10/22/the-7-most-important-aerial-cable-systems-in-the-world-for-various-reasons/
As the climate warms and the need for public transit increases, let’s go for the full package along I-55: private AND public transit.
(And while we’re at it — there’s been a lot of thought and effort devoted over the years to speeding up the trip between the Loop and O’Hare. Why not accomplish that using a dedicated P3 gondola line?)
- Third Generation Chicago Native - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:08 pm:
The Stevenson (I55) is forever under construction, a lot of ramps/bridges were just finished and now it starts up again…..How about better public transportation… Metra etc
- Now What? - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:09 pm:
Extending Rt. 53 would be real governin’. This is whiffleball. Let’s not get so excited over Bruce’s skills.
- Bongo fury - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:14 pm:
One of the reasons I55 is so congested is there are very little mass transit opportunities in the Southwest corridor.
Would it not be easier to put a light rail down the median of 55 much like the blue line on the Kennedy
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
Would it not be easier to put a light rail down the median of 55 much like the blue line on the Kennedy
No it wouldn’t, and it would be more expensive, too. And where would you draw your customers from? You would need massive park n ride lots to draw from the suburban commuters, and then they’d nave to walk several blocks to the station in the median. The Forest Park line of the CTA suffers from ho-hum ridership, and it is better situated for ridership than an I-55 line would be.
The easy part of adding a lane to I-55 is that the state already owns all the right of way it needs, not too much in the way of critical environmental concerns, and it would be a simple lane addition.
I do agree that the Metra Heritage corridor could use a Romeoville station and a few extra trains a day. The Rock Island has pretty good and frequent service, and the new Joliet station will be nice if they ever get it completed.
- Bogey Golfer - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 1:51 pm:
FJP - I want to say ‘no’. The Elgin is taking over the Elgin-O’Hare but had to make a number of modifications to meet its standards. IDOT is a agency included in the State’s Court of Claims whereas the Tollway isn’t.
- ChiTownSeven - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:12 pm:
I suggested this a few times in the past: why not transfer some state assets (in this instance, 1 lane of I-55) to some of the state pensions to help pay down the state’s liability? Seems a lot more pragmatic than transferring them to the private sector.
- anon - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
Yes. Gondolas.
Will the operators sing?
- RNUG - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:26 pm:
The pension funds wouldn’t want a deteriorating asset that would cost more to maintain in the long run than it would bring in in revenue.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 2:50 pm:
As RNUG states…the tollway generates about enough money to cover its expenses, and is not really a cash cow. The only way a state asset could benefit the pension system is if it were outright leased to one of these P3 outfits…The entire state tollway system might bring in north of $15 billion, but it would be a once-in-50 years deal. Chicago could probably use the $ from a Midway Airport lease right about now, but again, a one time shot…do you really want to use it to pay down debt? IN at least got a lot of “new” stuff when it leased the Indiana Toll Road.
- Res Melius - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:05 pm:
RoadRager raises good points, this is not a quick fix. Also, P3s do not always have a positive outcome issues: bankruptcy (Indiana Toll), public pushback (Texas). Transparency is important. I agree, let’s try this.
- Six Degrees of Separation - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:27 pm:
RoadRager raises good points, this is not a quick fix.
The last time I-55 was widened (lanes added from I-80 to Naperville Road) it took less than 2 years. The gov’s schedule might be a tad ambitious, but it’s not going to be an O’Hare-scale rebuild, they are talking about $400 million which is less than a total re-do.
- OneMan - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:33 pm:
== Maybe freeing up some infrastructure for regional public transit (which is what just about every single private sector tech company is looking for in site selection) ==
Most tech is going urban because the mass transit infrastructure is there and urban vs suburban areas are more appealing to young people which growing tech looks to hire.
Being carless in the city is much easier than doing it in Naperville, even with all of the mass transit in the world. It isn’t going to be efficient to move people who live in lower density housing to work via mass transit without a ‘driving yourself’ phase. In the future that might be uber or autonomous cars, but we are not there yet.
http://www.ngkf.com/Uploads/FileManager/NGKF-White-Paper-Suburban-Office-Obsolescence.pdf
- okgo - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:35 pm:
I hate to say it (I actually don’t), but ANOTHER recycled Blagojevich idea?
http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/26/2622.asp
- drew - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:40 pm:
I think the idea of adding toll lanes is fine, but I don’t understand why we need a private partner. Last I checked, the state is still able to build roads and sell bonds. It seems the only purpose would be to further enrich some wealthy cronies of the governor.
Exhibit A would be the parking meter sale. Anyone think that was a good idea?
- Angry Chicagoan - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 3:42 pm:
At some point, increasing vehicle fuel efficiency means a new revenue stream has to be found for roads to augment gas taxes, set-asides from the general fund, and so on. I’d rather see this dealt with globally — statewide tolls, using approximately the general fee schedule from the Illinois Tollway (not the inflated version being inflicted on the Elgin-O’Hare), in return for a progressive income tax and better and more thoughtful support of alternatives like better rail or better land use planning to encourage shorter commutes.
Biggest concern is the idea of a P3 doing it. There’s always a cost. You only go P3 if you need it, like, yesterday, and have no affordable way of summoning the cash on hand. And I can’t imagine the capital cost of a HOT or general-purpose toll lane on 55 is a dealbreaker, even for Illinois.
- Affluenza - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 4:46 pm:
Ironic that there is renewed interest in PPP after so much success with the Illiana Expressway which cost millions with nothing to show for it. Since the feds won’t pay for toll lanes along their federal expressways, IDOT will be forced to drawn from current MFT revenues in which will be taken from downstate road districts for life of the PPP. It is really obligating state debt without have to seek bonding authority from the Legislature. Inserting “private” means that somehow the private investors will need to make it profitable in order to be viable. The losers will be motorists who will have to pay a higher rate and all statewide gas pump users. This is a regressive and unfair user tax for those who cannot afford it. It shows that travel time for single moms and seniors on a fixed income is not important. This will become an express lane for the affluent. They need to name this new lane the “Affluenza Expressa.”
- illinois manufacturer - Thursday, Feb 4, 16 @ 9:36 pm:
With all the massive job loss brought to us by Rauner we should have less congestion anyway.
- NoGifts - Friday, Feb 5, 16 @ 7:18 am:
This may save IDOT “construction cost” but in the long run it costs taxpayers more. They have to pay back the cost of the private partner construction plus profit. If the private partner continues to maintain and operate it, we can also expect the tolls to be set high enough to do that, plus profit. We do need another lane on I-55.
- Last Bull Moose - Friday, Feb 5, 16 @ 7:22 am:
If this goes forward,I suggest a design, build, operate, maintain approach. When power plants were done as financed projects, initial costs went way up so that reliability increased and maintenance costs were cut.
We had a project where the boiler cost went up 40 percent.
- tarnath - Monday, Feb 8, 16 @ 2:55 pm:
How about turning responsibility for the highway over to the Tollway Authority? Then all users can contribute to the maintenance and expansion of the road with tolls instead of just a few fast lanes.