Saturday, May 10

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.

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]


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