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Road fund raid bad for downstate roads
[MAY 10, 2003]
SPRINGFIELD -- A
Democrat-sponsored plan to raid the state's road fund will not pass
the Illinois Senate without strong opposition from downstate
lawmakers, according to Sen. Larry Bomke, who serves as Republican
spokesman for the Senate Transportation Committee.
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House Bill 714 is
sponsored by Transportation Chairman George Shadid, D-Peoria. It
gained approval in the Senate Executive Committee last week, with
strong opposition from the Republican committee members. The bill
would divert $12 million from the road fund annually.
"We need every penny
for the road program," said Bomke, R-Springfield. "Earlier this week
the governor released a scaled-back road program. Now, the Senate
will consider legislation that will divert more money from the fund.
The bottom line is: We should not be diverting more money from it
while much-needed projects that affect the safety of Illinois
citizens are put on hold."
The Senate could vote
on House Bill 714 as soon as this week. Bomke intends to vote no, as
do many of his downstate colleagues whose districts will be affected
by the loss of funds.
Currently, the
replacement of license plates is funded through a diversion of road
funds: $4 from each title fee or approximately $12 million each
year. Replating ends Dec. 31, 2004, and the diversion of funds is
scheduled to stop on that date as well. House Bill 714 would
continue to the diversion of the $12 million indefinitely.
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Adding to the
frustration of downstate lawmakers is the unveiling of the
governor's five-year road plan. The governor indicated to lawmakers
that some projects slated for fiscal 2004 may be deferred for
budgetary reasons, but he will not reveal which projects.
Bomke pointed to
projects such as proposed changes for the junction of Illinois Route
125 and Interstate 97 in rural Sangamon County as reasons why the
$12 million should not be diverted. The dangerous intersection has
been the cause of several fatal and near-fatal accidents in recent
years, putting it at the top of Bomke's priority list for local road
projects.
"Representative
Brauer and I recently talked with the secretary of transportation
concerning this junction, and we are closely monitoring the project
and its progress," said Bomke. "I do not want to see these repairs
delayed because of lack of funds while the secretary of state
stockpiles road funds."
The fiscal 2004 road plan included $1.625
million for the intersection reconstruction, resurfacing, left turn
lanes, signal installation, right turn lanes and land acquisition at
the intersection. It is one of 16 projects slated for funding in the
50th District during fiscal 2004.
[News
release] |
