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Gov.
Blagojevich urges Republican lawmakers to put politics aside and
support jobs program that would put 230,000 people to work
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Jobs bill
will build better roads, improve mass transit and ease school
overcrowding throughout Illinois
[APRIL
7, 2006]
SPRINGFIELD -- After Illinois Senate
Republicans voted against a capital construction program, Gov. Rod
R. Blagojevich urged them to put partisan politics aside and support
a plan to build better roads and schools, improve public
transportation, and put 230,000 people to work. After extensive
debate, the Illinois Senate on Thursday rejected along party lines
Senate Bill 668, a capital program to fund school construction,
and
Senate Bill 3053, to fund road projects, mass transit and higher
education. Neither bill received the required three-fifths majority,
or 36 votes. All 32 Senate Democrats voted for the two bills, but
Senate Republicans voted against both.
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"We have a responsibility to the children of Illinois to provide the
best education we can offer, and that includes everything from books
to bricks and mortar," Blagojevich said. "This is a tremendous
opportunity to help our children, and we should not let it pass us
by. There are also roads and bridges and highways across Illinois
that need to be built and need to be fixed. We need to help
commuters who rely on public transportation. These are things that
need to be done. And if we do them, we will give people all around
Illinois the opportunity to go to work. We cannot let partisan
politics get in the way of progress. It's not too late to support a
capital plan and do the right thing for the people of this state."
Blagojevich proposed a $3.2 billion capital plan, including $2.3
billion to build new roads, which will leverage $1.5 billion in
additional federal transportation dollars; $425 million to improve
public transportation, which will bring another $1.7 billion in
federal funds to Illinois; and $550 million for school construction
and maintenance projects. The governor's capital plan included:
Central Illinois projects that would be funded
under a capital plan:
Roads:
-
U.S. 51 -- $21
million has been proposed under the bond program for new
construction of four miles of a four-lane expressway, land
acquisition and utility adjustments on the Assumption bypass.
-
Illinois 29 -- $40
million is being proposed under the bond program for new roadway
construction of 6.4 miles of a four-lane expressway from
eight-tenths mile south of Berry to 1.2 miles south of Edinburg.
School construction:
Chicago area projects that would be funded under a capital plan:
Roads:
-
CREATE -- $100
million in new state funds, for a combined total of $200 million
in state and federal funds, for the Chicago Region Environmental
and Transportation Efficiency Program.
-
Eola Road at I-88 in
Aurora -- $21.8 million in the bond program is proposed for
interchange reconstruction.
-
U.S. 45 in Grayslake
-- $28.6 million is in the proposed bond program for 3.2 miles
of additional lanes from Washington Street to Illinois 137.
-
Illinois 47 in
Huntley -- $19.7 million is included in the bond program for 2.1
miles of additional lanes and a bridge replacement.
School construction:
-
West Northfield
School District 31 would receive a $1.8 million school
construction grant.
-
Matteson Elementary
School District 162 would receive a $1.1 million school
construction grant.
-
Northbrook School
District 27 would receive a $1.5 million school construction
grant.
-
Chicago Public School
District 299 would receive a nearly $30 million school
construction grant.
-
Big Hollow School
District 38 would receive a $250,000 school construction grant.
-
Joliet Public School
District 86 would receive a nearly $27 million school
construction grant.
-
Winfield School
District 34 would receive a $2.3 million school construction
grant.
-
Carol Stream
Community Consolidated School District 93 would receive a $1.5
million school construction grant.
-
Villa Park School
District 45 would receive a $980,000 school construction grant.
-
Westmont Community
Unit School District 201 would receive a $1.2 million school
construction grant.
-
Manteno Community
Unit School District 5 would receive a $2.1 million school
construction grant.
-
Bradley School
District 61 would receive a $2 million school construction
grant.
Higher education:
-
Northeastern Illinois
University would receive $64 million for construction of an
education building.
-
University of
Illinois Chicago would receive $26 million for campuswide
renovations and $61 million to plan and construct a chemical and
life science building.
-
Chicago State
University would receive $21 million for renovation of Douglas
Hall.
East central Illinois projects that would be funded under a
capital plan:
Roads:
-
I-74 Urbana
interchange -- $1.2 million is being proposed under the bond
program to do engineering for design, location and environmental
studies for a new I-74 interchange near Urbana.
-
Fourth Street and
Hazelwood extensions -- $4.6 million is included in the bond
program for the construction of roads for the expansion of
Research Park at the University of Illinois in Champaign.
Higher education:
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign would receive $27
million to construct an electrical and computer engineering
building, $50.8 million to renovate Lincoln Hall, and $16.9
million to construct the Post-Harvest Crop Research Facility.
North central Illinois projects that would be funded under a
capital plan:
Roads:
-
Technology Boulevard
-- The proposed bond program provides $12.5 million for the
expansion of Technology Boulevard.
-
Illinois 336 -- $3.6
million has been earmarked for designing the expansion of
Illinois 336 to I-474 in Peoria County.
-
Illinois 29 -- $1.6
million has been earmarked to design a four-lane expressway
segment from Cedar Hills Drive to Illinois 6.
Higher education:
- Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal would
receive $34.6 million to renovate the Visual Arts Center.
Northwest Illinois projects that would be funded under a capital
plan:
Roads:
-
Widen Illinois Route
5 from 16th to 70th Streets in Moline, $29.1 million -- Consists
of 3.18 miles of construction improvements on Illinois Route 5,
including additional lanes and various intersection
improvements. Commercial development would be expanded in
connection with the construction of the nearby new West Rock
River Bridge.
-
U.S. Route 20 Galena
bypass, $13.1 million -- Consists of design and engineering for
6.5 miles of new roadway construction beginning at the
intersection of U.S. 20 and Illinois 84, northwest of Galena,
and continuing southeast in a clockwise direction to Horseshoe
Mound, approximately seven-tenths of a mile northwest of Mount
Hope Road, east of Galena. The construction improvements would
include grading, paving, new interchanges and 15 new bridges.
-
New Mississippi River
bridge -- More than $15 million has been earmarked under the
federal bill to design and purchase land for a new Mississippi
River crossing in the Quad Cities.
-
U.S. 30 in Whiteside
County -- $6 million has been earmarked to design additional
lanes and a bypass around Morrison on U.S. 30 between Illinois
136 and I-88.
School construction:
- Silvis School District 34 is in line to receive nearly $12
million in the form of a school construction grant.
Higher education:
- Western Illinois University would receive $13 million for
construction of the Riverfront Campus.
[to top of second column] |
 Rock River Valley projects that would be funded under a capital
plan:
Roads:
-
Illinois 2 South
Main, Rockford -- $12 million.
-
Illinois 2 South
Main, Beltline to Clifton -- Begins at the intersection of
Illinois 2 and Beltline Road and continues north to just south
of Clifton Avenue, southwest of Rockford, for a total of 2.62
miles. The improvements consist of widening and resurfacing,
constructing a bidirectional left turn lane, curb and gutter,
storm sewer, and bridge rehabilitation.
-
Illinois 2 South
Main, Michigan to Cedar -- Begins at the intersection of
Illinois 2 and Michigan Avenue and continues to Cedar Street,
southwest of Rockford, for a total of 1.2 miles. The
improvements include widening and resurfacing, constructing a
bidirectional left turn lane, curb and gutter, and storm sewer.
-
Illinois 173 Corridor
Project, from Illinois 251 to I-90, Boone County Line, $35
million -- This project begins at the intersection of Illinois
173 and Illinois 251 and continues to the Boone County line, for
a total of 4.69 miles. The improvements include additional
lanes, resurfacing, constructing turning lanes and changes to
traffic signal timing and progression.
-
Illinois 173 at
Illinois 251, $40.3 million -- This project consists of
intersection reconstruction at the intersection of Illinois 173
and Illinois 251 in Machesney Park.
Higher education:
- University of Illinois Rockford Medical Campus would receive
$12 million for construction of the National Rural Health
Center.
Southeast Illinois projects that would be funded under a capital
plan:
Roads:
-
U.S. 50 -- $42
million is included in the bond program for new roadway
construction and reconstruction of nine miles, engineering for
design, location and environmental studies on U.S. 50 from just
west of the U.S. 45 intersection west of Flora to Town Hall Road
east of Flora and from Fox River west of Olney to Saint Marie
Road east of Olney.
-
Maple Street
extension in Effingham -- $7.9 million is set aside in the bond
program for new roadway construction of 1.2 miles, a new bridge,
land acquisition, engineering for design location and
environmental studies for the Maple Street extension over
I-55-70 in Effingham.
-
Stanford Road in
Flora -- $1.2 million has been set aside in the bond program for
the reconstruction of four-tenths mile, engineering for design,
location and environmental studies from U.S. 45 to North Street.
-
Township Road 1000N
from Township Road 900E to Illinois 130 north of Mattoon and
County Highway 18 from Illinois 121 to two miles east -- $6.6
million in the bond program is proposed for 13.7 miles of new
roadway construction and resurfacing.
Southern Illinois projects that would be funded under a capital
plan:
Roads:
-
Illinois 13 from
Carterville to Marion -- $53 million is included in the bond
program for additional lanes and new roadway construction for
6.2 miles, a new bridge, intersection construction, land
acquisition and utility adjustments on Illinois 13 from Division
Street in Carterville to Halfway Road in Marion.
-
Extension of Veterans
Memorial Drive, Davidson Drive and Wells Bypass in Mount Vernon
-- The proposed bond program includes $2.8 million for paving
1.1 miles and land acquisition.
-
I-57 in Marion -- $4
million has been earmarked under the federal bill for a new
interchange and bridge on I-57 in Marion at Morgan Avenue.
School construction:
-
Fairfield Public
School District 112 would receive a $4 million school
construction grant.
-
Johnston City
Community Unit School District 1 would receive a $528,000 school
construction grant.
-
DuQuoin Community
Unit School District 300 would receive a $10 million school
construction grant.
-
Benton Community
Consolidated School District 47 would receive a nearly $2.5
million school construction grant.
Higher education:
- Southern Illinois University in Carbondale would receive $35
million to construct a Transportation Education Center and $6
million to equip Morris Library.
Southwest Illinois projects that would be funded under a capital
plan:
Roads:
-
U.S. 67 Jerseyville
bypass -- The bond program includes nearly $24 million for
four-tenths mile of grading, three new bridges, a culvert, a
bridge replacement, land acquisition, utility adjustments and
engineering for U.S. 67 at Dearcy Creek, a tributary of Dearcy
Creek and at Illinois 16.
-
Illinois 3 in
Waterloo -- $15.6 million is included in the bond program for
additional lanes on 3.4 miles, land acquisition, utility
adjustments and engineering from North Market Street to South
Market Street.
-
Illinois 159 in
Collinsville -- $25 million is included for additional lanes and
resurfacing on 2.3 miles, intersection reconstruction and
related work from three-tenths mile south of Beltline Road to
two-tenths mile north of South Morrison Road.
-
College Avenue
Extension in Greenville -- $1.8 million is included in the bond
program for a new bridge over U.S. 40 and the CSX Railroad east
of Illinois 127.
School construction:
Higher education:
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville would receive
$50.6 million to construct a science laboratory.
West central Illinois projects that would be funded under a
capital plan:
Roads:
-
U.S. 34 from Carman
Road to Township Road 66 west of Illinois 164 -- $53 million is
included in the proposed bond program for new roadway
construction on 5.7 miles of a four-lane expressway, a new
bridge, engineering and associated work.
-
U.S. 67, U.S. 136,
Illinois 336 -- The proposed bond program includes $30.5 million
for a new interchange, new bridge, land acquisition and
engineering on the Macomb bypass from U.S. 136 in Macomb to U.S.
136 northeast of Macomb.
-
U.S. 67 -- $5.5
million is included in the bond program for design and
engineering on the U.S. 67 expansion from half a mile north of
Illinois 101 to Schuy-Rush Park Road, including a Rushville
bypass.
Higher education:
- Western Illinois University in Macomb would receive $57
million to construct the Performing Arts Center.
[News release from the governor's
office] |
