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* From the governor’s daily public schedule…
What: Governor Rauner Joins Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn to Urge Lawmakers to Act on the I-55 Managed Lanes Project
Who: State Rep. Jim Durkin, Road Builders Association, Metropolitan Planning Council, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, American Concrete Pavement Association and American Council of Engineering Companies
Where: 8630 Joliet Rd., McCook
Date: Monday, March 27, 2017
When: 11:00 a.m.
Note: For background, please read Secretary Blankenhorn’s op-ed on the I-55 Managed Lanes Project here.
* From that op-ed…
Under rules established in 2011 by the General Assembly, the one thing standing in the way for Illinois to proceed is a joint resolution by the House and Senate so IDOT can start listening to proposals from investors.
That is, just to get the OK to begin the procurement process and entertain proposals. If there are no solid proposals, IDOT cannot move forward.
Despite the interest from the investment community and the mounting travel times felt by commuters, the Illinois General Assembly has refused to vote on a joint resolution for almost a year.
Meanwhile, the clock ticks. Without a vote by April 1, the project no longer is feasible for the private sector. Investors will walk away. The cost to pursue this project in the future will only increase.
April 1st is Saturday.
*** UPDATE *** From Speaker Madigan…
“Where possible, we have been willing to work with the Governor on various parts of his agenda this spring including selling of the Thompson Center in Chicago and the reorganization he wants to do within state government. Our concern with private investors being involved in a toll lane is that, once again, it seems as though Governor Rauner is more interested in helping his wealthy friends. Despite multiple requests for information over several months, IDOT hasn’t prepared a plan that would lay out the costs, results, and anticipated tolls. IDOT hasn’t provided any evidence demonstrating that this project will save taxpayer dollars or result in better maintained roads. We continue to await this information.”
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 9:47 am
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Previous Post: Kankakee transit agency still struggling with impasse
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Why does Rauner care about this more than a budget?
There were articles about this earlier this year but I’ve never read any actual details about the project. Why do we want another toll lane where there should be a free road?
Comment by dude Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 9:53 am
It really is unfair to make these private sector investors wait so long. /s
Comment by Henry Francis Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 9:59 am
Tough people in hell want ice water
Comment by Red Rider Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:01 am
The hostage taker in chief is getting a dose of his own medicine. It’s too bad, because this idea has some merit if done correctly. More collateral damage for refusing to negotiate a budget.
Should he hang in there, Todd?
Comment by c'mon, man Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:05 am
Why is the deadline April 1st? Is it due to some possible match money? Was it set by the private investors that supposedly IDOT cannot listen to without the resolution? Blankenhorn’s op-ed does not say why.
Comment by Precinct Captain Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:05 am
Don’t do it. With everyone leaving Illinois t b eir is no need for another toll. They are all moving to Indiana.
Comment by I said it Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:06 am
No explanation as to why April 1st is a deadline. Probably just another Rauner April Fools Joke.
Comment by DuPage Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:10 am
Nothing passes until Rauner submits a balanced budget.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:11 am
“Rauner wants tollway vote this week” Rauner wants….HaHaHaHaHa
Comment by don the legend Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:13 am
>Why does Rauner care about this more than a budget?
Doubt he does, though he’d like reporters and editorial boards and voters to do so.
Comment by Earnest Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:21 am
==Despite multiple requests for information over several months, IDOT hasn’t prepared a plan that would lay out the costs, results, and anticipated tolls. IDOT hasn’t provided any evidence demonstrating that this project will save taxpayer dollars or result in better maintained roads.==
Geez, where is the trust?
Comment by Whatever Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:49 am
Shorter Madigan: Nyet.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:51 am
Don’t hear much about the Asphalt Pavement Association any more….
Comment by Arthur Andersen Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 10:58 am
Like my boss used to say, “It’s nice to want.”
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:10 am
Like my boss used to say, “It’s nice to want.”
Comment by Anonymous Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:10 am
I’m sure Rauner expected this response. This announcement was nothing more than to give an appearance to his wealthy friends that he’s trying to help them but Madigan keeps getting in the way. As far as the trust issue goes Rauner burned those bridges within 6 months of being elected.
Comment by The Dude Abides Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:17 am
April 1 is fake date and linked to claims that a construction season will be “lost” The want some to believe there is a guy with a cement mixer sittin’ at I-55 and Weber Road ready to start pourin’.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:20 am
No problem Bruce, Mike will get right on that for you. Anything else you want?
Comment by DuPage Bard Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:27 am
This is absolutely absurd. Taking a publicly built infrastructure that has been neglected by years by diverting public road tax funding and then proposing privatizing the overdue improvements for the benefit of the 1%
Comment by Chicago 20 Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:33 am
Rauner has to hurry now that voters approved the Safe Roads amendment.
Now that road taxes won’t get diverted, there will be tax money available for the State to pay for these overdue upgrades.
Comment by Chicago 20 Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:40 am
Can we predict the engineering firms that would be awarded the work?
Comment by Bill Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:42 am
So what I see here is our “Governor” stomping his feet because an opportunity to aid his billionaire buddies is not allowed to lapse. One which wouldn’t be there in the first place if, oh I don’t know, we had a budget, and could then maybe begin to work with the feds to address our infrastructure needs on the Eisenhower.
As soon as I saw the phrase Status Quo rear its ugly head, I knew we had a biased viewpoint being expressed.
Comment by PublicServant Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 11:58 am
Traffic volumes in Chicago arterials are crashing.No growth downstate us 30 was just cancelled….this is no where near as urgent as the budget
Comment by David Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 12:32 pm
The information Madigan wants can’t be complied until they send out a bid, and IDOT shouldn’t release information that gives potential bidders ideas to shoot for. This is basic biddding 101.
Mike Madigan does not waste 10 hours a week stuck in traffic. I do and I will not be forgiving to anyone who doesn’t work toward fixing this problem.
Comment by Not It Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 12:39 pm
Fine. Let it die. More highway lanes just induces more demand; they’ll quickly fill up and make no difference at all, except to line some donor’s pockets.
The only thing that will improve traffic is improving public transit service to give people a viable alternative to driving.
Comment by Northsider Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 12:59 pm
This is this administration’s Iliana. And as mentioned above, Few people will benefit, on the backs of others. And (of course) low DBE participation because less federal dollars.
Comment by Who Wha? Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 1:02 pm
BigBrain is busy tryin’ to create accomplisments — so far all he has is “early release” (opps that is what we called it under Quinn, now we talk about transformative justice) and the k-12 approps and all that spendin’ for the IT dudes. .
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 1:03 pm
==- Not It - Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 12:39 pm:
Mike Madigan does not waste 10 hours a week stuck in traffic. I do and I will not be forgiving to anyone who doesn’t work toward fixing this problem. ==
How do you know? Do you follow him? It takes 30-45 minutes to commute from Midway to downtown and 3.5 hours to/from Springfield. My guess is Madigan spends more time a week commuting than most of us in the burbs.
You think one toll lane on 55 will solve your commuting woes? Get a grip.
Comment by for real Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 1:23 pm
- The information Madigan wants can’t be complied until they send out a bid -
You’re under the impression that no one estimates the cost and traffic of highway projects before they’re put out to bid? Ludicrous.
Comment by Daniel Plainview Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 1:47 pm
The IL Tollway has more than enough bonding authority to do this project with the approval of the Tollway board. It would be cheaper than its previous I-355 south extension, and might make more money in the long run using congestion pricing.
Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 3:05 pm
==- Six Degrees of Separation - Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 3:05 pm:
The IL Tollway has more than enough bonding authority to do this project with the approval of the Tollway board. It would be cheaper than its previous I-355 south extension, and might make more money in the long run using congestion pricing.==
Agree. The Toll Highway Authority said they couldn’t do this because Rauner doesn’t want them to do it. This is all about a campaign promise, not what’s best for the roads or the people.
Comment by for real Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 3:13 pm
I detest toll roads. I once drove old Route 66 across Oklahoma to avoid their endless toll booths.
Comment by South Illinoisan Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 5:58 pm
Gov. Rauner, the road to your re-election travels through the speaker….figure it out.
Comment by facts are stubborn things Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 7:23 pm
Please get the roads fixed as myself and my family are moving to Indiana and the current infrastructure does not make for a smooth and timely voyage. I will only use the toll roads once.
Comment by Howard Monday, Mar 27, 17 @ 9:36 pm