$1.01 Billion Earmarked For Joliet I-80 Reconstruction But Deal Not Done Yet

By Evan Bredeson | May 17, 2019
WJOL

The city of Joliet and Mayor Bob O’Dekirk have announced the inclusion of $1.01 billion in I-80 reconstruction funds in the proposed $41.5 billion capital improvement plan proposed by Governor J.B. Pritzker. But there is nothing official from Springfield. Lawmakers still have until May 31st to approve the budget.

“Ever since the disclosure in February of the structural weaknesses of the I-80 Des Plaines River bridge in Joliet and the general deterioration of the interstate, Interim City Manager Marty Shanahan and I have made it a priority to press State and Federal officials to make all of the highways and bridges in Joliet both safe and efficient,” said O’Dekirk. “We have essentially been harassing the Governor and our legislators to make sure Joliet gets its fair share of infrastructure tax dollars—and it worked. We are sincerely grateful to Governor Pritzker for recognizing the corridor’s urgent needs and earmarking funds.”

Read the full article at
wjol.com

$1 billion proposed for I-80

Pritzker plan for capital bill still depends on tax hikes

By BOB OKON
The Herald News
May 18, 2019

Photo by ALEX ORTIZ

The push to improve Interstate 80 got a boost Friday when Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed a state capital plan that includes $1 billion for Interstate 80.

Local legislators called the Pritzker proposal a good start but cautioned that more needs to be done, including finding the money to pay for a capital plan.

“We need additional revenue in order to fund the projects that are in the governor’s proposal,” said state Sen. Pat McGuire, D-Joliet. “Without additional revenue there cannot be a capital bill.”

Read the full article at:
theherald-news.com

Pritzker unveils $41.5 billion capital plan

A proposal shown to lawmakers includes major new spending on roads, transit, schools and more, but would require a doubling of the gas tax and new levies on items like vehicle registration, liquor, cable TV and ride-hailing.

Getty Images from CRAIN’S BUSINESS CHICAGO

GREG HINZ ON POLITICS
CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS
May 17, 2019

After months of pondering, Gov. J.B. Pritzker today began briefing state lawmakers on his much-anticipated capital plan, and it’s both big and expensive—$41.5 billion over six years, to be financed in part by a doubling of the state’s tax on gasoline.

According to background documents obtained by Crain’s, Pritzker wants to pair just under $25 billion in state spending (mostly new, but some reprogrammed) with $10 billion in expected federal funds with $6.6 billion in local and private funds, saying that work is needed because Illinois infrastructure is in “dire” shape.

Read the full article at:
chicagobusiness.com