Pritzker in Peoria for two big announcements
Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021 - Posted by Rich Miller
* WBBM…
Governor JB Pritzker announced Monday more than $300 million dollars in new funding to assist struggling residents with rent, utilities, food and other household expenses regardless of immigration status.
With support from the American Rescue Plan Act and increased eligibility provisions by the State of Illinois, residents will have access to more utility assistance than ever before, as well as increased availability of funds per household. The State is leveraging $209 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand relief for Illinois families struggling to pay their bills as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
* Sun-Times…
The $327 million is available through two state programs — the Low-Income Household Energy Assistance Program and the Community Services Block Grant Program. The funds can be put toward rent, utilities, food and other expenses related to housing regardless of a person’s immigration status.
Pritzker made the announcement at Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, one of the 37 community action agencies in the state that helps residents receive payments through the energy and community assistance programs.
Of the funds available, $209 million comes from federal funds Illinois received through the American Rescue Plan Act. Those seeking the aid can go to the state’s Help Illinois Families website to apply.
* Meanwhile…
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker was at the intersection of Adams Street and U.S. 150 Peoria Monday afternoon to announce investments in the McClugage Bridge project with the goal of bringing improved infrastructure to the Peoria region.
“Investments like the rehabilitation of the McClugage Bridge, which was first built in World War II and carries about 20,000 eastbound vehicles a day, will not only support freight routes on Illinois’ roadways, but make day-to-day life easier for Peoria and East Peoria families who use this bridge to get groceries, see their doctor or visit the pharmacy,” Pritzker said.
* And…
Also Monday, Pritzker claimed the ongoing McCluggage Bridge rehabilitation project as a victory for him and for the state.
The $167 million work slated to finish in 2023 is being funded through the state’s Rebuild Illinois Capital plan.
“With a new deck bridge that will nearly double its width, the new structure will not only be safer, smoother, and faster at larger capacity, but we’re adding a protected bike and pedestrian path,” said Pritzker.
The McCluggage Bridge was first opened during World War II.
The Peoria Journal-Star had no coverage of either event that I could find.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:12 pm:
==The Peoria Journal-Star had no coverage of either event that I could find.==
Not surprising considering it’s a Gannett (former Gatehouse) newspaper. Like the SJR. Although maybe something will appear later today or tomorrow.
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:28 pm:
===20,000 eastbound vehicles a day===
There are CTA stops in Chicago that carry that many passengers a day too and don’t require hundreds of millions of dollars in repair. Just sayin….
- Anon221 - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:30 pm:
Maybe not of the Governor’s event, but the PJ Star has had info on the McCluggage Project for a while. https://www.pjstar.com/story/news/columns/nick-in-the-morning/2021/03/24/whats-new-for-2021-on-mcclugage-bridge-construction-in-peoria/6965680002/#:~:text=Construction%20of%20the%20new%20bridge,which%20opened%2073%20years%20ago.
- Peoria Hoss - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:36 pm:
This area doesn’t need bike lanes, it needs jobs. Or it will continue to shed people like Galesburg, Danville, Rockford, Kankakee, Decatur, and Springfield. If you aren’t talking about new jobs, we don’t need to hear about it.
- former southerner - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:38 pm:
=There are CTA stops in Chicago that carry that many passengers a day too and don’t require hundreds of millions of dollars in repair. Just sayin…. =
I have been in Chicago many times and I have never seen a fully loaded semi waiting to board CTA. A river bridge on an important logistics route isn’t exactly comparable to a passenger stop…
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:42 pm:
so the PJ Star does have a story about a new bridge today but it’s about the one in Henry. yikes.
sounds like a topic for a local journalism task force
- Lucky Pierre - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:43 pm:
If people can’t afford cars because there are not enough jobs bike lanes make a lot of sense.
Look at the chaos in third world countries with no bike lanes
- Now I’m down in it. - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:56 pm:
It’s not terribly surprising considering when JB’s handlers are in the habit of sending out media advisories and JB’s schedule. If they suspect there will be protestors and/or bad press, local media and the general public are not getting the info about the appearance until the last possible second.
- Joe Schmoe - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:01 pm:
Between Peoria and Bloomington, the state has spent a billion dollars widening their interstates and building new bridges. Springfield is the poor step-child. I-55/72 around Springfield is a two-lane death trap that provides full-time employment for the wreckers dealing with fatal accidents and vehicles flipping on the old interchanges. But it’s still safer than driving through the middle of town at night as the gangbangers play shoot ‘em up with each other.
- City Zen - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:10 pm:
“we’re adding a protected bike and pedestrian path”
Great, but to where do the protected paths lead? Because if it’s just protected over the bridge and there is no defined paths on the state roads or through the cloverleafs, it’s of little use.
- sulla - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:18 pm:
“This area doesn’t need bike lanes, it needs jobs. Or it will continue to shed people like Galesburg, Danville, Rockford, Kankakee, Decatur, and Springfield. If you aren’t talking about new jobs, we don’t need to hear about it.”
Is this comment a joke? New jobs? I’ve spoken with dozens of employers in Central Illinois this year and every single one of them is hiring. Every single one. There are thousands of jobs available.
Our problem isn’t a lack of jobs, it’s a lack of workforce. Indeed is showing 8,152 job postings for Peoria. At the same time, Peoria’s labor force has shrunk by 26,000 people since 2011. That is a 13% decline in labor force over the past ten years. You can add new jobs to Peoria’s MSA - all that is going to do is make it harder for incumbent industries to hire and maintain their existing staff.
How do people manage to completely invert economic reality like this?
- Crispy - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 1:50 pm:
- Peoria Hoss - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 12:36 pm:
This area doesn’t need bike lanes, it needs jobs. …
@@@
Construction (to build a bridge) sounds like a pretty good gig, at least for a few years.
- say_it_like_it_is - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
Numerous jobs available not many careers in that list of available job postings,
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 3:57 pm:
==But it’s still safer than driving through the middle of town at night as the gangbangers play shoot ‘em up with each other.==
And being slowed down by unsynchronized stoplights. Hitting red lights at every corner even if it’s the middle of the night and there’s no other cars around who have the green.
- Ducky LaMoore - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:07 pm:
“The Peoria Journal-Star had no coverage of either event that I could find.”
I literally know nobody that subscribes to the PJ Star anymore. Even my parents gave it up. Believe me, that is saying something.
- MyTwoCents - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 4:50 pm:
Even if the bridge carried less than 20,000 vehicles a day any bridge over the Illinois River should be maintained and replaced as needed. I can only imagine the effect on the economy if the river was closed to traffic for any extended length of time.
- Anyone Remember - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 5:05 pm:
===Springfield is the poor step-child. I-55/72 around Springfield is a two-lane death trap … .===
The foundation for BN’s road improvements was laid in the 1980s, when their entire legislative delegation made those improvements second only to support for ISU. What was Springfield’s GOP legislative delegation in that era doing? Trying to grab every patronage job they could get their paws on. A 2 lane I-55/I-72 was the result.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 6:13 pm:
==What was Springfield’s GOP legislative delegation in that era doing? Trying to grab every patronage job they could get their paws on. A 2 lane I-55/I-72 was the result.==
Need I say more about not widening Veterans Parkway to 3 lanes too (although it probably would not have been needed until about 2005). Plus ancient traffic lights and lack of turn signals. And no bypass around Chatham, which needs it on its west side.
Basically I would go as far to say that Bill Cellini is responsible for the lousy transportation and highway infrastructure here in the Springfield area.
- Just Me 2 - Tuesday, Sep 21, 21 @ 6:47 pm:
===I have been in Chicago many times and I have never seen a fully loaded semi waiting to board CTA. A river bridge on an important logistics route isn’t exactly comparable to a passenger stop…===
And that is why IDOT spends more money on roads than transit. I’m just saying the road people always want to defund transit when they don’t realize just how many people use it.