* Greg Hinz…
A group of Illinois congressmen is urging Gov. J.B. Pritzker to focus on such things as racial equity, climate change and maintaining existing roads, rather than building new ones, in spending the tens of billions of new transportation dollars the state will get under the big federal infrastructure plan that was enacted this year.
In a letter, the eight reps—all Democrats, and all but one whose districts include part of the city of Chicago—assert that the state must do business in a different way if it is to thrive.
But while the call for change has the support of groups, such as the Active Transportation Alliance, which favor more money for bike paths and bus lanes, it may not receive much applause in downstate and suburban areas. And some Democratic congressmen whose districts are wholly suburban did not sign. […]
In the letter, the eight reps contend that Illinois’ transportation system now produces “the most greenhouse gasses of any sector in the state” and subjects Latino and Black communities to excess pollution.
“These challenges are why the U.S. Department of Transportation encourages state and local governments to invest the funds…..in ways that mitigate climate change, improve safety—especially for disadvantaged communities—address racial equity and remake our transportation system so it is accessible to all users,” the letter states.
From the letter…
Invest in Maintenance and Modernization - Not Expansion: Years of experience in the Chicago region and metro areas across the country shows highway expansion fails to achieve long-term congestion relief but instead, increases pollution and further isolates people who can’t afford or aren’t physically able to drive. The policy framework from the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) for implementing the BIL calls for states to prioritize projects that fix existing infrastructure and improve our transportation corridors so they safely move more people - not vehicles -above projects that expand road capacity. It’s critical Illinois take this guidance to heart and reevaluate planned road expansion projects in IDOT’s Multi-Year Plan (MYP), transparently analyze the costs and benefits, and shift investment towards more efficient and effective projects.
Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bill Foster, Lauren Underwood and Cheri Bustos did not sign.
* From a Daily Herald interview with new Illinois Tollway chair Dorothy Abreu…
Q: Which construction project has caught your interest?
A: The most exciting one is the tollway (I-490) that we’re building that’s just going to wrap itself around O’Hare International Airport and create access from the western point that will relieve a ton of congestion.
I wouldn’t be too sure of that.
* WTVO…
Illinois is among the states considering lowering the State Gas Tax. Right now, drivers in the Land of Lincoln pay about 39 cents on a gallon after the tax doubled in 2019.
Earlier Friday, Gov. JB Pritzker signaled that he’s willing to make a change.
“We are looking at ways we can reduce the gas tax across the State of Illinois, because we recognize, even since I introduced my budget, that war has broken out and the result of that war is that oil prices have gone through the roof,” he said.
* WGEM…
Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed freezes on raising the gas tax and grocery tax in his budget for the next year. However, Reps. Tom Demmer (R-Dixon), Patrick Windhorst (R-Metropolis), Mark Luft (R-Pekin), and Amy Elik (R-Alton) argue more should be done sooner.
Even since the governor’s address in January, gas prices have risen. The average price a month ago was $3.68 per gallon; now it’s nearly a dollar more at $4.54 a gallon, according to AAA. Inflation is at the highest rate it’s been in 40 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
They argue these policies would help relieve struggling Illinois residents from rising costs. Representatives on border districts say it’s no secret that residents cross state lines to get fuel and food in a state where the taxes are cheaper.
“Across the river from my district is St Louis. It is not uncommon to see gas prices in Missouri anywhere from 50 cents to 70 cents a gallon cheaper than Illinois on a given day,” Elik said.
In terms of exploring other ways to ease financially struggling families, such as raising the minimum wage, Demmer said they wanted to focus on tax relief.
* Post-Dispatch…
A crude oil spill from a broken pipeline has triggered a cleanup in and along a Madison County waterway for more than a week, with thousands of barrels of oil discharged next to a Mississippi River tributary.
A cause of the spill is still under investigation. Recent history, though, shows pipeline incidents in Missouri and Illinois are most often caused by the failure of their own materials and equipment, according to government records.
Hundreds of such issues have arisen over the past two decades amid the web of pipelines that crisscross the St. Louis region.
“Those can be preventable, within reason,” said Richard Kuprewicz, president of a business called Accufacts Inc., and a specialist in pipeline investigations, auditing, risk management and other related matters.
In almost 50 years of investigative work, he has “never seen a failure by a true accident,” he said. Many pipeline spills happen, he said, because of something going wrong with their operation, maintenance, or even the quality of the pipe.
* Fox 2…
Illinois’ attorney general filed a lawsuit against Marathon Pipe Line LLC, alleging the company created a substantial danger to the environment and public health during a crude oil spill near Edwardsville last week.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed the suit Friday in Madison County. An estimated 165,000 gallons of crude oil leaked from the pipeline, according to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Some of the oil reached the nearby Cahokia Creek.
Raoul alleges Marathon violated the Illinois Environmental Protection Act by causing or allowing the oil to leak in an area that includes residential neighborhoods, commercial properties, agricultural properties, forested areas, and a wetland.
* Inside Climate News via the Sun-Times…
When Illinois lawmakers decided last year to ban most coal-burning power plants by 2030, it was because their harmful effects are well known.
The emissions they spew into the air are a leading cause of death, illness and climate change.
For now, though, the new law hasn’t slowed the plants at all. Last year, Illinois’ coal-burning power plants burned more coal than the year before, stepping up production by 39% — the biggest percentage increase among the top 10 coal-burning states, according to federal data.
Faced with the coming deadline that will require most of them to shut down, 10 of the state’s 13 coal-burning electric plants boosted production in 2021.
Part of that 2021 increase may have been due to the availability of vaccines and more people returning to work.
* More…
* With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine resulting in lower supplies to oil markets ahead of peak demand season, International Energy Agency 10-Point Plan proposes actions to ease strains and price pain: 1) Reduce speed limits on highways by at least 10 km/h. Saves around 290 kb/d of oil use from cars, and an additional 140 kb/d from trucks.
- Soapbox Derby - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:15 am:
New Headline: Democrat Representatives of areas already paved and developed say it’s time to stop building new roads.
- Responsa - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:48 am:
==Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Bill Foster, Lauren Underwood and Cheri Bustos did not sign.==
The tea leaves are being read, obviously.
- Chicagonk - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:49 am:
My creative idea for the infrastructure bill is to use the funds to replace funds allocated under the last capital bill. And then with the freed up money, redirect that to reforming IDOT. The state could also have IDOT pay their own pension costs (that would potentially get around the lockbox amendment).
- Ok - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:52 am:
I absolutely love the company name Accufacts. How can you dispute anything he says?
- Donnie Elgin - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:53 am:
=Illinois’ coal-burning power plants burned more coal than the year before, stepping up production by 39% — the biggest percentage increase among the top 10 coal-burning states, according to federal data=
And Illinois Basin Coal has reached record prices.
“Coal from the Illinois Basin soared $17 a short ton to $92.50 last week, the highest in records going back to 2005, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence released Monday”
- Ok - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 10:54 am:
Soapbox, sorry for your dirt roads.
- MurrayBaker - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:06 am:
These 9 Democrats are reinforcing the opinions of non-Chicago residents of Illinois(from the JBP bridge commercial). Chicago gets the goodies, while the rest of Illinois gets the scraps….
- Oswego Willy - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:15 am:
===Chicago gets the goodies, while the rest of Illinois gets the scraps….===
At the state level, as an example, downstate legislators who continually vote against infrastructure are usually the first to show up at ribbon cuttings that “She-Caw-Go” type legislators get passed.
Let’s not pretend that downstate legislators, in an overall or to the specific, are supportive of infrastructure via votes, and maybe when things are being considered, in an overall, be more supportive of infrastructure spending.
I’d like to see more infrastructure being maintained and built “everywhere”, and while the suburban Dems Rich listed didn’t sign the letter, I look at someone like Mary Miller who had zero project’s targeted for support… by her.
- Nick - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:17 am:
Fundamentally it is the correct take.
Building out rarely if ever actually solves traffic problems. Most states have issues keeping up with current maintenance needs, let alone adding more lane miles. Repaving something is not nearly as sexy as opening up more highway, but it’s more important.
- Huh? - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:42 am:
“Illinois is among the states considering lowering the State Gas Tax.”
What a misguided and knee jerk idea.
Raising the gas tax several years ago got IDOT and the local agencies even with inflation. Now there is talk of cutting? IDOT and the local agencies will have to rebudget and rethink their highway improvement plans.
FHWA funds can’t be used for maintenance purposes unless the local agency has an approved pavement preservation plan. Rebuild Illinois funds can only be used on projects that are eligible for bonding.
That leaves MFT. Three years ago, the money was dangled. Now it is being jerked away. The repercussions if this MFT decrease is enacted will echo for years.
- Amalia - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:48 am:
in the case of O’Hare I think the new road will make a difference. there is only one way into the airport so you have to go around and enter from the east and that is a hassle and traffic nightmare. dealing more and more with elderly, cars are crucial, mass transit just not possible for many situations. it may be fine when one is young or cancer free (infection issues with mass transit or even cab and ride share) but I wish so many would stop trying to shame me into getting out of the car.
- Annonin' - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:55 am:
Continue to be baffled why anyone thinks that capping or cutting state/local gas taxes means lower pump prices. Refiners/marketers will not drop prices, but will cram $ in their pockets. Oil prices dropped last week, but pump prices did not improve.
- tallone - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:55 am:
+1 to NIck — new roads should be well justified. They become a liability in the long term. Maintenance and infill development to re-use what’s in place are important concepts for long term budget health
.
- Mr. Forgottonia - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 11:56 am:
You all will likely hammer me as you do…but I am asking each of the candidates up for election this cycle about needed infrastructure here in Forgotonia.
U.S. 67 has been swept away multiple times since it was proposed in 1990 when I was 6 years old. The Delhi Bypass just south of Jerseyville is already producing benefits economically to that region. Many shouts for “finish the road” here for now 3 decades have been heard. Why are we any less deserving many ask and many want to know why?
U.S. 267 is a complete hazard, especially when the pavement gets wet. IDOT scored the highway in the early 2000s and left the project incomplete leaving the road like one of those cheap vibrating beds that nearly rattle you to death when you drive on it. Again, we ask why isn’t it getting repaved - as many still drive it to the Metro East from Springfield and further north each and every day?
I am aware that these folks who wrote this letter have likely never stepped foot in our part of the country and I hear their concerns loud and clear. I understand them. However, to govern, you at least have to listen to everyone a little don’t you? Just a question. Like I said, roast me if you want.
The funds for these projects have been proposed and possibly allocated in the past, but were swept. This part of the country often has representation that vote against Democrats on everything else - so I’m sure a political consequence likely plays a part in some of the reason why this has happened.
- Benjamin - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 12:05 pm:
@Soapbox Derby: the issue isn’t new roads, it’s expanding the existing ones. Induced demand is a real thing. And it’s hard to be against putting maintenance of the roads the state already has first.
- Sir Reel - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 12:06 pm:
Nick is correct. Studies have shown that building new highways to relieve congestion usually leads to more congestion. “Build it and they will come.” They being more cars.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 12:20 pm:
==U.S. 67 has been swept away multiple times since it was proposed in 1990 when I was 6 years old. The Delhi Bypass just south of Jerseyville is already producing benefits economically to that region. Many shouts for “finish the road” here for now 3 decades have been heard. Why are we any less deserving many ask and many want to know why?==
Don’t forget finishing IL 336 from Macomb to Peoria. If they want to change the Canton-Peoria alignment of 336 to go mostly along Routes 9 and 24, that’s fine. But if they do that, then at least extend that “To Farmington Road” less than half-mile “freeway” from 474 to Maxwell Road so that it directly meets 116 before you reach Hanna City. That little freeway was supposed to be the eastern terminous of 336.
- NonAFSCMEStateEmployeeFromChatham - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 12:22 pm:
==U.S. 267 is a complete hazard, especially when the pavement gets wet. IDOT scored the highway in the early 2000s and left the project incomplete leaving the road like one of those cheap vibrating beds that nearly rattle you to death when you drive on it. Again, we ask why isn’t it getting repaved - as many still drive it to the Metro East from Springfield and further north each and every day?==
Also don’t forget a western bypass of Chatham too provided that there could be a “Business Route 4″ designation through town.
And finish the Macarthur extension from 72 to meet with both Woodside and Iron Bridge roads.
- Knee deep in _____. - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 12:31 pm:
Never once have I heard of someone buying a car because of new roads. If traffic is increasing it’s because the number of drivers is increasing.
However, maintenance on our 2 lane state highways is non existent.
- Bored Chairman - Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:22 pm:
Induced demand is a myth promulgated by the anti-road, transit only crowd. New highways get more traffic because people who avoid the highways when they’re congested use local roads to get around. Added capacity on highways where it belongs will make local roads less congested and safer.