* Morning IDOT press release…
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that multiple improvement projects in Chicago are underway or starting soon and extending into 2022. The seven projects represent a total investment of more than $849 million for the region, made possible by Gov. JB Pritzker’s historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.
“With the Rebuild Illinois capital plan, we are restoring and transforming Illinois’s aging infrastructure,” said Gov. Pritzker. “Rebuild Illinois is not only about investing in infrastructure but about investing in people and communities as well. In the coming months, IDOT will undertake projects that will ultimately create safer roads and bridges and provide jobs in Chicago and across the entire state.”
* Around the same time that release went out, Mayor Lori Lightfoot talked to reporters about infrastructure…
We also need to make sure that we get funding from the state, from the plan that was passed by the [legislature] in 2019. We’ve seen very little of those dollars, and it’s critically important that those dollars come to cities like Chicago so we can continue to magnify the efforts around rebuilding our aging infrastructure.
The city also gets a sizable chunk of the Motor Fuel Tax, which was doubled in 2019 and is now tied to CPI. Not to mention that getting the Chicago casino up and running would go a long way to providing dollars for vertical construction projects.
…Adding… I asked the governor’s office for dollars distributed to the city so far under Rebuild Illinois…
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:37 pm:
Mayor Lori “unforced error” Lightfoot sure has a great sense of timing lately.
- low level - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:40 pm:
Is anyone awake on the 5th Floor? Or competent? It’s ok that MLL was unfamiliar with Springfield. Not many people are, but that’s why you hire people who know at least something about the Capitol.
- Montrose - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:41 pm:
If Lightfoot’s comment came out five minutes before the IDOT announcement, she is going to count it as an advocacy victory.
- ChicagoVinny - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:42 pm:
At this point I would take Rahm back. If either way I’m getting coverups of CPD misbehavior, at least Rahm didn’t needlessly antagonize Springfield or get rolled by them that often.
- Moe Berg - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:44 pm:
Blaming Others & Failing to Read the Room: The Mayor Lori Lightfoot Story
For a start, maybe she should spent less time making cringe videos for social media.
Then she can ask ponder how to keep so many senior staff people from flee…leaving her administration.
- Pundent - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:45 pm:
The mayor seems checked out. Way too many mistakes and misses on what should be table stakes stuff.
- Chicagonk - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:56 pm:
Not sure which organization is more incompetent - IDOT or the Mayor’s office.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 12:58 pm:
This is more good news for our state, brought by both political parties. Too bad the GOP base is not animated by this but instead wants demonization of opponents, culture wars, conspiracies and Trump. The capital bill is one of the ILGOP’s best accomplishments lately and should be featured in its platform/PR.
- thisjustinagain - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 1:09 pm:
(insert “Fail Trumpets sound effect” here). LL continues boot-stomping in the minefield. $849 million isn’t chump change. And to Low Level’s comment asking if anyone is awake or competent on the 5th floor (of City Hall), those who are either are leaving or have left.
- Sonny - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 1:39 pm:
Do they need to exchange ph #s and emails with the Gov’s office? These two can’t communicate effectively to save their lives. It’s beyond parody at this point.
- Huh? - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 1:57 pm:
“Not sure which organization is more incompetent - IDOT …”
Please describe how IDOT is incompetent. Asking for a friend.
- Huh? - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 2:04 pm:
“These two can’t communicate effectively to save their lives.”
Why do Pritzker and Lightfoot have to coordinate press conferences?
- Chicagonk - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 2:08 pm:
@Huh - Well for one I can’t even access their website while I’m at work because Google thinks it’s a security risk.
- DuPage Dem - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 2:27 pm:
“These two can’t communicate to save their life.”
Seems like there is only one side that can’t communicate. LL likes to throw bombs and insult all her potential allies and then wonders why she can’t get any help.
- Steve Polite - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 2:35 pm:
=Well for one I can’t even access their website while I’m at work because Google thinks it’s a security risk.=
I think that must be from your employer’s firewall or network security protocols. I just used Google Chrome to access IDOT’s web site and received no such warning from Google.
- Scooter - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 3:01 pm:
Incompetent, no, but with IDOT it remains curious that this administration feels it’s appropriate for a multitude of Director seats to remain “acting,” vacant, or simply schlepped off to Rauner holdovers (i.e., the path of least resistance). Interesting strategy, all while implementing the transportation component of largest Capital bill in state’s history.
- Huh? - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 4:11 pm:
“Well for one I can’t even access their website while I’m at work because Google thinks it’s a security risk.”
What makes you think IDOT controls the security settings of its website? Everything has to go through DoIT.
- DMC - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 4:12 pm:
I think it is a bit more nuanced then that. IDOT maybe doing work in the city, it doesn’t mean it is providing the city’s match for the federal projects that are let by the state. I know, I know, nuance isn’t appreciated anymore. Just go with simple stupid.
- Say What - Thursday, May 27, 21 @ 10:04 pm:
== …doesn’t mean it is providing the city’s match for federal projects that are let by the state.==
Ok, I’ll bite. So basically are you saying that the $809M that the City is slated to get through the REBUILD grants and then the $303M they’re already receiving through MFT dollars aren’t valid *because* they aren’t specifically being put towards matching the City’s part of federal projects? Methinks you are giving the Mayor way too much credit with assuming she intended whatever nuance you are alluding to.