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Group claims IDOT will do “complete shutdown” on June 30 without stopgap deal

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* From the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association…

Crisis Position

That’s how IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn describes the current state of affairs. IDOT will send notices out to contractors tomorrow. No more destructive work will be allowed starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22. If there is no budget authority by June 30 there will be a “complete shutdown.” All engineering will stop. State let local projects will stop. Locally let projects will have to decide if they will continue — their MFT dollars will go through July. There will also be a shutdown of rail, transit, and airport projects. All shutdowns will commence on Thursday, June 30 if the stopgap budget is not passed.

IDOT will award contracts from the June 10 letting if there is a budget. At this point, IDOT does not intend to rebid if there is no budget. IDOT will not advertise the July letting until July 1. If there is no budget, IDOT plans to consult with industry as to whether or not they should even go through with that letting. Lapse spending (from the end of the fiscal year) will be paid.

The Tollway program will be impacted on IDOT jobs such as 290/390 interchange, Cumberland Flyover, and on the Kennedy add-lanes.

An IRTBA official says this information was gleaned from a meeting with IDOT today. He said he was “told I could release immediately…no embargo. Notices going out tomorrow to contractors.”

I’ve asked the Rauner administration for comment.

…Adding… From IDOT…

“We have started to inform our industry partners that all of our projects in both construction and engineering phases will be shutting down starting June 30 due to the majority party in the legislature’s failure to pass a balanced budget. The conversation about how individual projects will wind down is continuing.

“The stopgap proposal is a fiscally responsible solution proposed by the Republican leaders that can be voted on today. There will be no interruption in our projects and programs if the General Assembly returns to Springfield and passes HB 6585/SB 3435.”

…Adding More… Text from a pal who represents the industry…

Blankenhorn is making calls telling people about shut down all projects, 25k jobs gone. He called me & I could tell he was running through his list

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:31 pm

Comments

Pumping up the crisis level. Buckle your seatbelts folks. We’re in for a rough ride to the next phase, be it stopgap or full budget agreement.

Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:34 pm
Yep, feel the pain folks. It’s not going away. It’s only going to get worse. But hey, what we won’t do for that 1.4% improvement right? s/

Comment by Honeybear Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:38 pm
Nope, still not enough to end the impasse.

As far as summer travelers are concerned, suspension of road construction is a blessing.

No snow plows or salt is a different story.

In fact, if you force voters to pick a place to cut, transportation is usually in the Top Three.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:38 pm
Both offices will begin getting flooded by commuters who are being delayed in idle work zones.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:39 pm
Sounds like Leverage for everyone!

WOOHOO!!! /s

Comment by WhoKnew Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:42 pm
“As far as summer travelers are concerned, suspension of road construction is a blessing.”

For projects already begun, won’t the barricades remain in place?

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:46 pm
Still not a crisis of biblical proportions. That seems to be what we need.

Comment by Keyrock Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:48 pm
These rich contractors supported Rauner big time, and his first move was to raid their Road Fund.. You get what you pay for.

Comment by Wow Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:49 pm
And this: “Future MFT distributions will not be made until IDOT budget is implemented. Each local agency will need to determine if projects will proceed.” If the money is collected by Statute to be distributed to local agencies, why sit on it?

Comment by Shemp Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:55 pm
This might create a high visual casualty that creates movement. It was deaths that brought down Governor Ryan.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:56 pm
===IDOT will send notices out to contractors tomorrow. No more destructive work will be allowed starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22. If there is no budget authority by June 30 there will be a “complete shutdown.” All engineering will stop. State let local projects will stop. Locally let projects will have to decide if they will continue — their MFT dollars will go through July. There will also be a shutdown of rail, transit, and airport projects. All shutdowns will commence on Thursday, June 30 if the stopgap budget is not passed.===

Apparently you can treat businesses like that.

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:58 pm
This is the straw fellas. The roadbuilders are a powerful lobby, and if they get told to walk away from jobs on June 30 and wait for a budget, there will be heck to pay.

Ironically, if Rauner had eliminated prevailing wage and union shop rules, all of this pain would have been spread amongst non-union shops too. This way, he gets to focus the pain on union construction companies.

I know that there have been pilot programs with non-union shops, but for the most part, State contracts are held by unionized contractors.

Comment by Me too Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 4:59 pm
“… due to the majority party in the legislature’s failure to pass a balanced budget…. There will be no interruption in our projects and programs if the General Assembly returns to Springfield and passes HB 6585/SB 3435.”

Are IDOT press releases written by the Rauner press shop?

Comment by Nick Name Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:02 pm
– IDOT will send notices out to contractors tomorrow. No more destructive work will be allowed starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22.–

No more destructive work? Does that mean “squeeze the beast” is over?

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:02 pm
Last Bull,
Keep dreaming for tragedy and stay classy.

Comment by Gone Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:02 pm
===There will be no interruption in our projects and programs if the General Assembly returns to Springfield and passes HB 6585/SB 3435.===

http://thumbs3.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mScKUEyttkPE9sKkrVnE7aA.jpg

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:06 pm
Don’t want the tragedy. Remember Ryan too well.

Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:10 pm
IDOT forgot to say “super” majority. Gotta be consistent!

Comment by Sir Reel Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:21 pm
47th Ward - too funny!

Comment by BBG Watch Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:25 pm
I assume Rauner’s response will blame Madigan for this?

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:35 pm
This should have happened last year. If the courts had been doing their job nothing would have been paid after June 30th and a budget would have been passed

Comment by H.L. Mencken Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:38 pm
@Nick Name

Presumably barricades will remain in place for pending work, but if no workers are in place you don’t have to slow down to 45.

Comment by Juvenal Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:40 pm
All IDOT work on airports will also stop. That should reassure regional travelers.

Double whammy for one of my relatives. College student at U of I Urbana Champaign who will be a senior and is also employed this summer as an engineering intern with a consulting company working at two regional airport with IDOT.

He just received this information today.

“Crises create leverage”
April 5, 2015
Bruce Rauner

Comment by Illini Law Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:41 pm
So, the Democrats will have to pass a funding bill with a tax hike…..and if the Republicans don’t vote for it, or if Rauner vetos it, it will be on them.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:49 pm
If a Rauner person is doing this and blaming the legislature, can we assume Lisa Madigan will up the ante with the state paycheck deal?

Comment by Stuff Happens Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:51 pm
I believe most IDOT work was allowed to continue during the Blagojevich years when we didnt have a budget. Contractors were not paid but worked into August.

Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:52 pm
Also worth noting that forcing a work stoppage will increase costs.

Comment by Lil Squeezy Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:54 pm
Hmmm. In other administrations doing political work on state time and under the auspices of state authority was investigated by the US Attorney.
In this one it’s celebrated and even scripted!

Comment by northsider (the original) Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:57 pm
Blankenhorn is running through his list … of what?

Madigan failures?

Come on. This is all on Rauner.

(Just as it would have been on Quinn two years ago.)

Comment by Macbeth Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:14 pm
IDOT has been running on fumes, but since road work is getting done, it’s been almost unnoticeable. They millions to consultants and haven’t been able to do many of their federal pass through payments. Everything should have stopped July 1, 2015,and we wouldn’t be in this situation now. Hopefully this will help to bring home some of the pain to average working class voters - the disenfranchised hostages can get some company.

Comment by You Have My Stapler Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:17 pm
“Are IDOT press releases written by the Rauner press shop? ”

No, they are written by Madigan’s press shop? Duh! /S

Comment by Mama Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:21 pm
Don’t forget the secretary is appointed by the governor. They won’t let them just walk off the job. They’ll have to clean up and clear the lanes.

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:27 pm
If the contractors leave it a mess and interrupting traffic it is because the governor planned it.

Comment by NoGifts Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:29 pm
Juvenal

You still have to slow down in Illinois. You don’t used to - the signs used to say when workers were present, they don’t any more.

Shemp
no budget, no appropriation authority. meaning state can collect it, but not spend it.
—

why should IDOT not be held hostage? Rick’s post today show lots of hostages.

Comment by thoughts matter Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:32 pm
sorry, Rich’s posts today.

Comment by thoughts matter Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:33 pm
25,000 jobs gone. And people said there was no way he could cut taxes… :/

Comment by Stuff Happens Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:36 pm
HFS and DHS should put out statements like this.

Comment by Anon. Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 6:49 pm
So the announcement about the IDOT-led Quad Cities passenger rail project this morning…all about more leverage.

Comment by stateandlake Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 7:26 pm
Can we stop the destructive work of the gov.

Comment by illinois manufacturer Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 7:36 pm
Hope the BigBrain did not shift again today on funding add on during the secret meetin’ and delay the final StopGap…..that would be terrible

Comment by Annonin' Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 8:00 pm
Looks like more heroics from Super Gov!

Comment by Super Gov! Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 8:02 pm
There are so many questions that must be answered. What happens to those projects with a completion date contract. Do they get an extension due to the delays caused by this shutdown? What happens to materials that have been ordered and fabricated? Who is going to pay for the storage and extra delivery fees?

This is just so dumb.

Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 8:18 pm
- Juvenal - Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 5:40 pm:

@Nick Name

Presumably barricades will remain in place for pending work, but if no workers are in place you don’t have to slow down to 45.

So are you saying because no one stands by a STOP sign we do not have to STOP? Seems it is not who is present but ‘what’ is ‘posted’ that rules.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:24 pm
I am really offended that the press release blames the failure of the “majority” party. I don’t recall this level of blatant partisanship in the agencies before, whether the head is appointed by the governor or not.

Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:38 pm
By political I mean the official communication, not the appointment, of course.

Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 9:55 pm
Jibba, I appreciate finally an Administration telling it the way it is. The majority is holding it up. Why not say it?

Comment by Wake up Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 10:10 pm
Wake Up, you need to take another shot of coffee. Just saying.

Comment by Jorge Tuesday, Jun 21, 16 @ 11:01 pm
Well, 1.4% has clearly shown how to run state government like a business. First stiff the not for profit social service agencies. Next stiff the vendors supplying goods and commodities. Then shut down highway construction during the height of the season.

All for the want of a personal agenda that does very little to solve the financial problems of the State.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jun 22, 16 @ 5:08 am
4th - Great link. Needed the chuckle this morning.

Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Jun 22, 16 @ 7:34 am
Time to tell mjm Summer VaCa is over - Get back to Spfld and get your jpb done NOW!

Comment by A Citizen Wednesday, Jun 22, 16 @ 8:55 am
@A Citizen… Isn’t his job passing the “balanced budget proposed by the Governor?”

The second there is a balanced budget proposed by the Governor, then the Speaker should get to Springfield and debate it.

Comment by Delimma Wednesday, Jun 22, 16 @ 9:29 am
I know agency directors are political appointees, but does it seem to anyone else that Rauner’s are a little more partisan that previous ones? In the past they would have blamed things on the lack of a budget. Rauner demands a level of loyalty that can only be proven by acts like this one. And possibly ethical violations like this one: http://www.illinois.gov/aging/Resources/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/2016-0617.aspx

I took the ethics test and know that use of state equipment (like the state’s web page) for partisan political purposes is a violation. This should be investigated.

This system is for conducting the state’s business, not for the governors schemes.

Comment by NeverBeenHereB4 Wednesday, Jun 22, 16 @ 8:22 pm