Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » *** UPDATED x1 *** Despite some progress, Illinois is still a long way from having decent infrastructure
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
*** UPDATED x1 *** Despite some progress, Illinois is still a long way from having decent infrastructure

Friday, Apr 29, 2022 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Clare Spaulding at the Tribune

The number of Illinois bridges in poor condition has increased over the last four years and a quarter of the state’s water lines are tainted by lead, according to the latest infrastructure report card from the Illinois Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

But despite the state’s third consecutive below-average overall grade of C-minus in the quadrennial report, massive investments from the state and federal governments led the authors to conclude that “fortunately, the future is bright.” […]

Across 11 infrastructure categories, the state maintained or improved its ranking in all but one category, its drinking water score, which fell to a poor rating.

* More from Greg Hinz

But the state’s overall rating remained at C- because the group added a new category on which Illinois fared very low—handling of stormwater, rated D.

“Prioritizing additional funding for aging stormwater infrastructure is needed to keep up with increasing rainfall trends from climate change,” Walton said.

Related drinking water infrastructure also is aging faster than it’s being fixed, the group said, a reason why the state’s grade for drinking water slipped from C- to D+.

The report noted that Illinois has one of the largest shares of lead pipes in the country. “While efforts from Congress and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency are addressing those service lines to protect residents, grant programs must be accelerated to improve conditions at a faster pace.”

The report card is here. The full study is here.

* From the press release…

The state has continued to prioritize critical investments for the sectors that move goods and services; Aviation (C+), Inland Waterways (D), Ports (C-) and Rail (C+). The results of this could not be clearer as all these categories were able to maintain and, in some cases, improve their grades since 2018.

Illinois’ communities and water agencies are making progress, but the state continues to have one of the largest shares of lead service pipelines in the nation, impacting residents who rely on these systems for clean drinking water. Out of 4 million total service lines, over 675,000 have been identified as lead and almost 380,000 as copper with lead solder services. While efforts from Congress and the Illinois EPA are addressing these service lines to protect residents, grant programs must be accelerated to improve conditions at a faster pace. Illinois’ aging drinking water infrastructure is leading to leaking pipelines, costing taxpayers money and critical resources. In 2017, a total of 106 million gallons per day (MGD) were lost amongst Lake Michigan allocation permittees, or 13% of total water supplied. Additional funding is also needed for aging stormwater infrastructure that must keep up with increasing rainfall trends from climate change.

Transit and roads both receiving a “D+” were able to show notable increases. These systems have stabilized and begun to improve thanks in large part to Rebuild Illinois, despite most of the funding not taking effect yet. The percentage of state-maintained highways in excellent condition grew 5.2% in 2020 when compared to 2019. In 2021, the state raised its gas tax to 39.2 cents per gallon and its diesel tax to 46.7 cents per gallon, which will contribute to future growth. Through the federal bill and Rebuild Illinois, operating budgets for transit systems are also expanding. For example, in 2022, Metra (commuter trains) is budgeting operating expenses of $900 million, which is $100 million or 12.5% higher than in 2021. 101 out of Illinois’ 102 counties offer transit service, and 57 public transit operators and providers supported an estimated 600 million trips in 2019, the second largest public transportation system in the U.S.

The report card says the state needs to spend $2 billion to repair and modernize the transit system.

* Meanwhile

Governor JB Pritzker today joined leaders from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) at an event announcing a $33.5 million investment at four universities, bringing the total investment in deferred maintenance projects for higher education institutions across the state to $434 million. These new projects will take place at UIC, Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, and Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

* And

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is announcing the issuance of $182,222,203 in water infrastructure loans to local governments and sanitary districts for the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2022 (January - March 2022). The Illinois EPA State Revolving Fund (SRF) Program provides low-interest loans, which fund wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water projects. Twenty (20) of the thirty-three (33) loans qualified for a total of $8,571,149.62 in Disadvantaged Community Principal Forgiveness, providing additional benefits to those recipients meeting the loan rules for either the Small Community Rate or Hardship Rate. These projects are in addition to more than $9.6 million of funding and principal forgiveness already announced for lead service line replacement projects issued by Illinois EPA in the third quarter.

* Not strictly infrastructure-related, but worth including

Higher education leaders across the state are celebrating the comprehensive FY 2023 state budget recently passed by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by Governor JB Pritzker on April 19, which includes a historic higher education budget of $2.24 billion - representing a $248.5 million increase from last year and the largest increase in over 20 years.

*** UPDATE *** CBS 2

Chicago has the most lead service pipes of any city in the country — which means this freshwater isn’t always “fresh” by the time it gets to your house.

The Metropolitan Planning Council says Illinois isn’t getting its fair share of federal funds to fix it. […]

Justin Williams with the Metropolitan Planning Council explained that Illinois is set to receive $565 million out of the $15 billion worth of federal funding allocated to lead service line replacement.

But based on the percentage of the lead pipes in the nation, Illinois’ share should be more like $1.8 billion. […]

He says that’s because the U.S. EPA is going by old data.

In 2022, the federal government is updating the formula by which they determine each state’s allotment to include lead pipe replacement costs.

And he says that survey can’t come soon enough.

Ugh.

       

7 Comments
  1. - TheInvisibleMan - Friday, Apr 29, 22 @ 12:43 pm:

    “106 million gallons per day (MGD) were lost amongst Lake Michigan allocation permittees, or 13% of total water supplied.”

    This is interesting, because there is a requirement for a certain percentage - below this number - for municipalities to initially hook onto Lake Michigan water supply. It’s part of the agreed multi-state pact.

    I have to circle back on that, or maybe it’s buried deep in the report somewhere, because I was under the impression that the percentage loss through leakage number was a number that had to be maintained at or below the level needed to hook into that supply. If the loss through leakage number is now higher than the hook-on maximum requirement, then that’s either a shortcoming in the great lakes pact or those individual water systems should be paying fines for their leakage above the hook up requirement.


  2. - Give Us Barabbas - Friday, Apr 29, 22 @ 1:16 pm:

    I see a tremendous opportunity here for putting people to work, similar to the asbestos abatement business. Could be exciting times for the plumbers’ union,and construction union, to leverage The federal money aimed at fixing this.


  3. - Just Me 2 - Friday, Apr 29, 22 @ 1:19 pm:

    When you consider that Illinois is the transportation hub of the nation, I’ve always been surprised the feds don’t kick in a little more dough. They’re a little helpful with CREATE, but a ton more is needed. Ask any trucking company or business that relies on rail and they’ll tell you.


  4. - City Zen - Friday, Apr 29, 22 @ 1:33 pm:

    ==historic higher education budget of $2.24 billion - representing a $248.5 million increase from last year and the largest increase in over 20 years.==

    Don’t forget the historic $2 billion payment to SURS too.


  5. - Publius - Friday, Apr 29, 22 @ 2:06 pm:

    Problem is a lot of money goes to the sun belt to build all their infstructure from the ground up. Considering parts of the west is out of water I don’t know what it means in the long term. I would assume that taxpayers should think about higher costs going forward.


  6. - anon2 - Friday, Apr 29, 22 @ 2:37 pm:

    == Could be exciting times for the plumbers’ union ==
    I’m sure Rep. D’Amico will correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t the union in days gone by push for a lead pipe mandate?


  7. - Rich Miller - Friday, Apr 29, 22 @ 2:39 pm:

    ===push for a lead pipe mandate? ===

    Yep. And it’s why Chicago used lead water pipes longer than anywhere else.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Energy Storage Brings Cheaper Electricity, Greater Reliability
* Roundup: Testimony focuses on ex-aides loyalty to Madigan
* Uber’s Local Partnership = Stress-Free Travel For Paratransit Riders
* Some not-great state flag redesign contest feedback from WGN
* Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards
* Pritzker: Gia Biagi signals a “new era” at IDOT
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller