By Haley Kosik/WJEZ News
As Illinois’ 2010 construction program comes to an end, state spending on roads and transit will drop from $1.1 billion this year to $352 million next year. According to the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, at least $1.8 billion dollars is needed every year. This past spring, Governor Bruce Rauner, along with state lawmakers, cut $1.5 billion dollars trying to meet a state budget.
Todd Maish, President of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman of the Transportation for Illinois Coalition said this makes things worse. Maish hopes for a long-term federal transportation program, rather than the short extension that has been enacted since 2009. Maish says they will lose the ability to plan for large projects handling congestion and safety that the state really needs.
Also, the federal highway trust fund is due to run dry this summer. The federal gas tax of 19 cents a gallon hasn’t been raised since 1993. Since then, inflation has eaten away half its value, and drivers are getting more miles per gallon. Maish does not have a position on the gas tax, but he says there should be a dedicated stream of tax revenue from the income or sales tax, because everyone benefits from good roads and transit, even if they aren’t directly the user.
