* Rachel Droze…
Repairing and replacing the city of Springfield’s sewer system is estimated to cost more than $50 million over the next decade. […]
When averaging the age of Springfield’s oldest in newest pipes, the sewer system is about 60-years-old. The oldest pipes were laid about 150 years ago.
If necessary repairs aren’t made, sinkholes can form. […]
Since most of the city’s major sewage pipes run under roads, cave-ins could cause roads to collapse. […]
[Springfield’s Sewer Engineer John Higginbotham] said the city should be spending roughly $4 million a year on repairs and upgrades, but last year they only spent $1 million.
When people think of infrastructure, they often think only of roads, bridges and transit. But sewer and water systems in this state also need attention. It’s easy to get away with neglecting them because they’re underground. Out of sight, out of mind - until, that is, a sinkhole forms and a main road collapses.
*** UPDATE 1 *** Madeleine Doubek…
One of Illinois’ biggest and most critical assets always has been its transportation network. We’re smack dab in the middle of America, but we lost Amazon’s HQ2 and we could lose more economic opportunity if we don’t tend to that network. That means planes, trains, transit, roads and, especially, bridges, noted Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn.
Three quarters of Illinois’ bridges are in need of repair. We should be rebuilding five major bridges a year, but we’re working on one every five years, he said. “This is a crisis that’s coming,” Blankenhorn said. “This is what keeps me up at night.”
If we want to build our communities, attract new people who can contribute to those communities and fund governments, then we need to invest in transportation, Blankenhorn and others said.
He called for an increase of at least 15 cents in the state gas tax, which hasn’t been increased since 1990.
Once again, Blankenhorn says this stuff about a big gas tax hike after the election even though the governor has been saying for years that no tax hike is needed to pay for a capital bill.
*** UPDATE 2 *** Tribune…
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday called for a 20 to 30 cent per gallon increase in the state’s gas tax to fund a major statewide transportation bill.
Emanuel made the push during a City Hall news conference in which he was joined by members of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, an organization that represents the Chicago region’s 275 cities, towns and villages.
“Our state can’t wait any longer,” Emanuel said, noting neighboring states have passed transportation bills with gas tax hikes.
- Hmm - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:04 am:
Anybody else feel like they can already see the IPI cartoon if that happens?
- Metro East Transplant - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:09 am:
Spfld’s storm water system isn’t the greatest either. I have family who lives off Chatham Road. When it rains the street(s) fills up and if your car is parked on the roadway, you might be filing an insurance claim, due to water reaching the doors. Hopefully they are discussing how to address this infrastructure failure as well.
- Sir Reel - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:11 am:
Infrastructure is such a difficult issue. The public doesn’t like to pay higher taxes and politicians prefer new projects over maintenance repair.
In the past, tying bonds to a new, acceptable tax (sales tax on soda) has worked.
In addition to roads and bridges, state parks, universities and prisons, and even the electric grid and high-speed internet, need infrastructure funding which makes it even more difficult.
However challenging it is, the state’s economic future is tied to fixing this problem. Illinois is always billed as the crossroads of America. Time to put some money behind it.
- Bogey Golfer - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:22 am:
“…politicians prefer new projects over maintenance repair.”
How true; they love to have a big whoop-de-do for a new road, bridge, park or building. But to replace a 100-year old water main, or having someone disconnect their downspouts from the sanitary sewer to prevent someone else’s basement from flooding……
- Steve Rogers - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:23 am:
And I’m sure this problem exists in more communities than Springfield. We’re going to feel the damage that Rauner has cast for many, many years.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:24 am:
Here’s hoping Pritzker recognizes the core responsibilities of maintenance and stewardship.
Too many politicians blow those off because they’re not sexy; they’d rather feed their egos by rolling out new shiny things they can put their names to.
Wouldn’t it be swell to have a boring governor who just did the actual gig?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:24 am:
The best way to make tough bills easier to the bipartisan is the Capital Bill carrot.
Depending on the funding parameters, it could attract many from all stripes, so that will be the watch for me.
- A guy - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:27 am:
==because they’re not sexy==
The pictures and PR bumps aren’t sexy, but the job numbers sure are.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:28 am:
We can count on Proft and company to oppose any tax hike to pay for the capital plan. After all, they keep saying, “Illinois doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem.”
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:28 am:
Just a bit of confusion on my end. Why wouldnt Springfield do their own bond deal and pass the costs onto the users
- NeverPoliticallyCorrect - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:29 am:
I know Rauner is everyone’s favorite villain but the infrastructure neglect has been going on for decades. The level of decay we see if the fruit from the tree of incompetent government. Neither party has implemented the needed ongoing allocation of resources to maintenance. This is really a general assembly issue at it’s root, so how about looking at that leadership for fault.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:32 am:
LOL, easy for you to say, Blankenhorn, on your way out the door.
Any others from BTIA(TM) want to step up and tell us what they should have done? I’m sure it’s quite a list.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:35 am:
I had to drive up and down Springfield’s Chatham Road during the Bible-scale torrential downpour on December 1, and the street was all but impassable due to flooding. In the past, we’ve had people drown when they were caught beneath overpasses during storms like that.
A capital bill may seem not sexy, but there isn’t a politician alive who doesn’t like to tout bringing pork home to the district, and the jobs that means. And $50 million over ten years is a lot of jobs.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:41 am:
== Why wouldnt Springfield do their own bond deal and pass the costs onto the users ==
Because Springfield already had done really high fees (relatively speaking) for their multi-layered sanitary district. We already pay the same or more for the sewers than we do for water. They have been slowly rebuilding the sewer system but it was ignored for so long the needs are great. I don’t doubt there are sections that bad, but I also see the recent stories as an attempt to snag State money if they can.
And it’s not just Springfield. A lot of small towns need new sanitary plants. Heck, one of the hangups on a second lake high is the outdated sanitary plant in Pawnee.
- SSL - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:42 am:
Talk about a regressive tax. The natives are going to get restless if they raise the gas tax a nickel, much less three times that amount.
Looks like the tax on marijuana is going to need to be 100% to fix the problems.
How did a state with such a high tax burden get to this point?
- Michelle Flaherty - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:45 am:
Sorry, biggest construction priority in Springfield is a decorative fountain for the vacant Y-block across from the gov mansion.
Really disappointed Blankenhorn failed to address that need.
Thank goodness Mayor Jim Langfelder is around to keep Springfield’s construction priorities straight.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:45 am:
Thank you randy for your comments. Where have you been for the last 4 years as your transportation system has deteriorated? Rather than bleating about automated cars, you should have been pleading for your highway and bridges.
- Anon - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:50 am:
=And it’s not just Springfield. A lot of small towns need new sanitary plants.=
I know where I live we had a huge sewer rate increase a few years ago to address similar issues. Why should I now have to pay for Springfield’s, after just paying for the same thing locally?
I do agree with the need for a capital bill, but sewers should be a local issue, in my opinion .
- Dodger's Blue - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:50 am:
Wow, Randy where was that leadership over the past 4 years?
- Proud Sucker - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:51 am:
==sewer and water systems in this state also need attention.
Truer words have not been spoken.
Potable water has state SRF available. The Feds passed the SRF WIN Act last month, which still favors drinking over wast but, still we should quickly get our Capital act together.
- Bored at work - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:54 am:
RNUG,
That doesn’t seem to really be an answer to Blue Dog.
If a rural town somewhere has been diligently maintaining its infrastructure why should suddenly have to pay a gas tax to fix something in Springfield? They’re rural, so likely they use more gas per capita and they’re also likely poorer than Springfield so it seems doubly unfair.
I don’t understand why the money raised by a gas tax isn’t just sent back to the county where the gas station is. Then that county can use it for infrastructure if they want or just lower property taxes if they don’t.
- A Jack - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:55 am:
Apparently Blankenhorn didn’t read the Republican platform.
- Nick Name - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:55 am:
===but sewers should be a local issue, in my opinion .===
It won’t - can’t - get done without matching grants from the state and the feds.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 10:55 am:
I pay 150/month for my small town infrastructure upgrades on sewer system and now they want me to pay for Springfield’s? Am totally against it. Let spfld pay for itself
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:00 am:
–I don’t understand why the money raised by a gas tax isn’t just sent back to the county where the gas station is. –
That’s a great idea — if your goal is to wipe out the entire road network outside the Chicago metro.
Or maybe you didn’t know that two-thirds of the state population resides in six counties in the northeast corner?
- Been There - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:04 am:
===Once again, Blankenhorn says this stuff about a big gas tax hike after the election even though the governor has been saying for years that no tax hike is needed to pay for a capital bill.====
I always say that those that don’t have to vote on a revenue source (or sign the bill) should just stick to pointing out how much they think is needed. Or just point out how much different scenarios would raise. Otherwise you get goofy statements like this or like that guy from the Fed Reserve promoting property tax hike. There are many ways to raise revenues and none of them are painless. Let those taking the vote make that difficult decision.
- Cheryl44 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:11 am:
–I don’t understand why the money raised by a gas tax isn’t just sent back to the county where the gas station is. –
If we’re going with that idea, make it the municipality rather then the county. I’ve been told there are suburbs which don’t allow gas stations within their borders.
- TominChicago - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:12 am:
I don’t understand why the money raised by a gas tax isn’t just sent back to the county where the gas station is. Then that county can use it for infrastructure if they want or just lower property taxes if they don’t.
A portion of it is since there is a local government disbursement of a portion of the collected MFT based on population.
- Steve - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:27 am:
It’s amazing that other states have roads and bridges but a lower gas tax… Go figure.
- cover - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:27 am:
= I don’t understand why the money raised by a gas tax isn’t just sent back to the county where the gas station is. Then that county can use it for infrastructure if they want or just lower property taxes if they don’t. =
Most small towns and rural areas receive way more in state transportation funding than what the motor fuel tax brings in locally - it’s yet another way that suburban Cook and the collars subsidize downstate.
Also, there’s an inherent unfairness in your suggested method, counties with an interstate would have a big advantage over their neighbors without an interstate. For instance, it might be great for Clark County, but it would be terrible for neighboring Crawford County which isn’t really on the way to anywhere.
- Steve Polite - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:30 am:
In the Springfield neighborhood I live, the storm and sewer lines are connected. Anytime we get a significant amount of rain in a short period of time the sewage backs up into our basement.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:30 am:
== It’s amazing that other states have roads and bridges but a lower gas tax ==
Saw a chart recently. Illinois was either #11 or #12 in terms of gas taxes. And what was most interesting was Illinois really wasn’t an outlier; most of the states were only a cent or so lower than Illinois.
- lost in the weeds - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:38 am:
Local governments are related to state and federal laws by consitutions and state and federal laws. The interelationship includes taxation and funding. Small towns can have little tax revenue if all they have is untaxed ag business and a gas station/convenience store. There are towns of 2000-3000 population that no longer have a grocery store. They are 20 miles from a grocery store.
- Bogey Golfer - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:39 am:
In addition to the MFT, many counties or cities impose a sales tax and that money goes back to where the fuel was sold. And the gas tax charge is a function of the number of highway miles in each state. What I don’t get is using gas tax revenue to funds bike trails.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:41 am:
A 15 cent hike puts us square in the top 10 nationwide and might push us ahead of CA and NY when you include the sales tax on top of the motor fuel tax.
I wonder if the state will increase the surcharge on diesel beyond the current 2.5 cents.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:43 am:
== It’s amazing that other states have roads and bridges but a lower gas tax ==
Saw a chart recently. Illinois was either #11 or #12 in terms of gas taxes. And what was most interesting was Illinois really wasn’t an outlier; most of the states were only a cent or so lower than Illinois.–
Gee, RNUG, you really know how to ruin an ill-informed snarky tantrum.
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:46 am:
Leveraging fed dollars should be a priority with any increase in taxes.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/
https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/water-waste-disposal-loan-guarantees
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/09/05/states-are-forgoing-millions-in-federal-biking-and-walking-money/
- State Rep Mike Fortner - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:51 am:
One issue in Illinois is the combined gas tax and sales tax that doesn’t exist in most other states. I’ve proposed a few bills over the years to do swap that was relatively neutral to the consumer. For example, HB 2057 from the 97th GA swapped off the 5% state portion of the sales tax on gas for a $0.15 increase in the gas tax. I proposed that bill in response to the possibility that the Supreme Court would disallow some of the revenue funding the 2009 capital bill. The $0.15 was picked to fund capital while the sources initially passed would go to GRF solving any legal problem.
At that time swapping 5% of $3.00/gal for $0.15 that was a wash to the consumer. Today it would be a slight increase since gas is cheaper than it was at that time.
Unlike the conditions at the time I filed that bill there is no ready revenue to replace the swapped sales tax. However, since the price has gone down there is less revenue for the state to make up from the loss of the sales tax to the GRF than there was when I proposed that bill.
- DuPage - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:52 am:
I wonder how much Illinois has lost in Federal matching funds for highway and bridge rebuilding and improvement. Sometimes if one state (Illinois for example) does not apply, the federal government gives the money to some projects in other states.
- striketoo - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:53 am:
Hike it a nickel a gallon for each of the next five years. The increase will be lost in the noise of the regular ups and downs of the market price.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:53 am:
Why do I feel like I’m at an auction?
- Homer Simpson's Brain - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:55 am:
Gas prices are higher on average in Illinois than in neighboring states. It’s why I think a 30 cent hike is unreasonable. Didn’t the Yellow Vest protests start over gas taxes? Bad plan Emanuel.
We should be going after commercial users for the money before everyone else.
Also agreed that sewer systems are a local concern, however the state should pitch in in poorer communities.
- Perrid - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 11:59 am:
Incredible how many people can’t see past the example. Springfield is not the only town that would benefit from the state investing more in infrastructure. We don’t know where said money would go, or when, but if we don’t raise it exactly 0 towns will get help. Jeez, this isn’t hard.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:01 pm:
MFT is allocated as follows:
Counties - # of registered vehicles
Municipalities - population
Townships - miles of road under their jurisdiction.
- Stooges - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:06 pm:
For all the naysayers, take a look at a map. Illinois has the third most miles of interstate trailing only Cali and Texas, and most of those routes could use an additional lane in both directions. As others have noted, we are not in top 10 for tax on gas. We are also third in overall highway miles.
And since the gas tax also pays for bike trails, some transit and a bit of the state police, its amazing this high tax state actually trails 10 other states in tax on gas. Time to increase the tax.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:12 pm:
“wonder how much Illinois has lost in Federal matching funds for highway and bridge rebuilding and improvement.”
Depending on the project scope and funding source, the FHWA pays 80% of the construction costs for non-interstate road and bridge projects. For interstate projects, they pay 90%.
So for a $1 million project, the FHWA will pay $800k provided IDOT ponies up the $200k.
- Huh? - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:15 pm:
As a point of clarification, IDOT fronts all of the construction costs and then asks the FHWA for reimbursement.
- Homer Simpson's Brain - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:25 pm:
==As a point of clarification, IDOT fronts all of the construction costs and then asks the FHWA for reimbursement.==
This system would work better if the federal match worked more like it does in the Medicaid program.
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
Bored at Work: I would imagine most of the state’s transportation needs are in highways or rail lines that transcend multiple jurisdictions. If every jurisdiction only handled the part that runs through them it would be horrendous.
Your statement also ignores regional/state priorities. (Just because a transportation asset isn’t in your neighborhood that doesn’t mean you don’t benefit from its existence.)
Moreover, many local jurisdictions have their own motor fuel tax as well, and those funds do stay local.
- Union thug - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:37 pm:
When comparing gas tax take into account what the states do to fund infrastructure. Take Texas. Back in the 90s they started privatization of the parks. Now you can’t go to a state park without a fee. I like my state park free to enjoy. Recently I was down in D/FW. All the highways in town have tolls. Basically they have sold off the roads to the highest bidder. So you really want that in Illinois?
On a side from my rant. What would be great to see is a long term plan. Instead of 5 years that is being paid off over 30 years. Identify a revenue stream and pay as ya go. Right now every 5 years or so you start hearing about needing a capital bill that will take 5 years to get past and includes a new tax
- RNUG - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:41 pm:
== Gee, RNUG, you really know how to ruin an ill-informed snarky tantrum. ==
Facts tend to do that …
- JakeCP - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 12:56 pm:
Didn’t JB propose the idea of raising the gas tax, too? I think most Illinois residents won’t mind it.
- anon2 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:02 pm:
== I don’t understand why the money raised by a gas tax isn’t just sent back to the county where the gas station is. ==
Those of us from Cook and the collars second that motion! The lion’s share of the drivers come from northeastern Illinois, but downstate gets the majority of the gas taxes.
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
==All the highways in town have tolls.==
They are user fees and so long as they are used to maintain the roadways then I wouldn’t have a problem with it. Those fees are directly tied to those using the roads. That’s one of the fairest systems I can think of.
- OneMan - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:21 pm:
== For all the naysayers, take a look at a map. Illinois has the third most miles of interstate trailing only Cali and Texas, and most of those routes could use an additional lane in both directions. ==
Was under the impression that at least in the recent past getting federal money to expand capacity was a real challenge. Not sure if that is true anymore.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:28 pm:
“The lion’s share of the drivers come from northeastern Illinois, but downstate gets the majority of the gas taxes.”
Here is the location of the data for you to prove your hyperbolic assertion.
http://www.idot.illinois.gov/transportation-system/local-transportation-partners/county-engineers-and-local-public-agencies/mft-distribution/index
- Huh? - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:33 pm:
Anon @ 1:28 twas I
- Sir Reel - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:36 pm:
Folks, no State MFT goes for bike trails. A small amount of federal highway funds does
A small portion of the State vehicle title fee does. But no MFT, with the exception of some road widening which allows for bike lanes (not separated trails).
- Chicago 20 - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:47 pm:
If I could afford a Tesla none of this would concern me.
- Union thug - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:51 pm:
Hey Demoralized, same roads with same issues. They just added tolls. On top of that it would do nothing but hurt the lower income.
- Union thug - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 1:57 pm:
Allow me to add that all the tolls go to a foreign company
- Demoralized - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 3:17 pm:
Union thug:
You said: “Identify a revenue stream and pay as ya go”
Tolls would do that. So would the gas tax. What revenue stream are you talking about?
- Union thug - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 4:22 pm:
Demoralized, don’t get me wrong. Is the right place a toll road is fine. However the real life example I have was not one here and there. Every highway in all major towns be toll roads would not be a good thing. Especially if it’s the example I gave. Selling the highways does not create a long term revenue stream. Private investors charging tolls does nothing to increase revenue for the state.
What they do for a revenue stream can be a number of things. I’m not opposed to most ideas. I will say gas tax may be limited as more economical stuff moves in. Main point though is not to have to go through the same fight every 5 or so years. Besides be a better sell to people if you can show a long term plan instead of a short term repeat of before.
- Blue Dog Dem - Tuesday, Dec 11, 18 @ 5:47 pm:
Yesterday, one of the posts talked about the demise of many rural volunteer fire protection districts. I agreed with a couple of commentators who basically said tough luck. You made the decision to live there. But I know if I want to improve things at the fire dept, I better open up the old wallet. Tough decisions need to be made in certain places. You want sewer? You want water? What certain niceties does your town spend money on that you don’t really need?
- Woody - Wednesday, Dec 12, 18 @ 7:54 pm:
People will complain to high heaven about a 30 cent gas tax increase and then go out and spend a dollar for a bottle of water, something they can get free from their kitchen tap. Go figure.