When people comment on the articles I post on Illinois Review, I get copies emailed to me.

There have been four comments so far on my article on how Governor Rod Blagojevich is managing to find money to build two bridges—one, as a reader points out, a complete interchange— over I-57 in Central Illinois, but can’t find money to build a bridge across the Fox River in southern Algonquin.

The first two have to do with the influence that federal money has on state decisions. The third seems to agree with my inference that the Fox River bridge, which local officials are trying to turn into a toll bridge, will have much more traffic than those on I-57.

The fourth is really interesting; especially in view of our family’s recent trip to Eagle Creek Resort on Lake Shelby for the wedding of Catherine Morris and Jeff Black.

Let me emphasize it here:

Posted by: Todd | Friday, September 07, 2007 at 09:46 AM

Actually, the bridge in Coles county is being built for one very good reason (state idea not mine).

While the local city and county governments think it is valuable to keep trucks out of their respective cities, the reality is that the state went along with the proposal to allow quick access to a gambling boat on Lake Shelbyville.

This interchange will allow a straight shot to Eagle Creek Resort from I-57 to allow your neighbors access to this boat without coming into contact with the “hicks” in Mattoon.

That would be a downright intriguing motivation, wouldn’t it?

And, having gotten lost in Mattoon (or was it Charleston) on the way to Shelbyville from Springfield, a short cut would have been appreciated.

Comments

Federal spending steers local spending. The #1 goal of local spending is to leverage

Federal spending. The presumption of the spenders is always that getting some other taxing entity’s money is getting FREE MONEY.

What benefits the public is far down the list of priorities.

Solution: Eliminate the Federal DOT and all Federal transportation taxes (gasoline, tires, batteries, airports, etc).

Then the State transportation decisions would not be based on getting Federal money.

This would still not be perfect. But it would be much better than the current system.

Posted by: Bob Schmidt | Tuesday, September 04, 2007 at 11:39 AM

Solution: Eliminate the Federal DOT and all Federal transportation taxes (gasoline, tires, batteries, airports, etc).

Then the State transportation decisions would not be based on getting Federal money.

I’m all for that as State decisions about a lot of issues; transportation,health care, education… are based on getting that Fed money.

I wish there was a party and legislators that would actually stand by some fiscal responsibility.

I thought the Champaign project was an entrance/exit ramp, not just an overpass. It’s right next to new subdivisions. It’s not really necessary imo, but someone got their earmark. Maybe Rep. T Johnson?

I did have to laugh about Cal complaining about money heading south for once instead of the Chicago area Black Hole. But he has a valid point from what I see.

Posted by: Susan Ryan | Tuesday, September 04, 2007 at 08:24 PM

Yeah…so? How many people drive 31 over the Fox, and how many people live adjacent to 57 and 294, Cal? Do the math; it will instantly be one of the busiest interchanges in the area when completed.

Posted by: Jerry | Thursday, September 06, 2007