DISTRICT ROADWORK PROJECTS WOULD CONTINUE WITH SUPPORT OF SENATE'S BUDGET
06/20/2017
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced recently that it will be forced to suspend all projects if Illinois does not have a spending plan in place by June 30 of this year. State Sen. Omar Aquino, a Democrat from Chicago, called on fellow lawmakers to avoid this crisis by approving the Senate’s spending plan.
“Stopping transportation projects would create a totally unnecessary hardship for the taxpayers,” Aquino said. “In the Senate, we’ve already advanced a plan that would fully fund IDOT and keep crucial road projects like the resurfacing of North Avenue moving in the right direction.”
Aquino represents Senate District 2 on the northwest side of Chicago. The district includes three proposed IDOT projects including the resurfacing of Illinois Route 64 or North Avenue in Wicker Park and Humboldt Park. The longer the state goes without a budget, the longer it will take IDOT to resurface the street.
Last month, the Illinois Senate approved a full-year budget that would give Gov. Rauner the authority to spend gas tax and road fund revenues on state transportation projects. Without the spending authority included in a budget, the governor will be unable to use these funds and state roadwork will be suspended.
“The spending plan that the Senate approved last month would not only keep construction projects going, it would also fully fund MAP grants, bring back youth employment grants and keep state universities open,” Aquino said. “The Illinois Senate already passed a budget that provides certainty and stability. It is time to finish the job and end the chaos.”
“Stopping transportation projects would create a totally unnecessary hardship for the taxpayers,” Aquino said. “In the Senate, we’ve already advanced a plan that would fully fund IDOT and keep crucial road projects like the resurfacing of North Avenue moving in the right direction.”
Aquino represents Senate District 2 on the northwest side of Chicago. The district includes three proposed IDOT projects including the resurfacing of Illinois Route 64 or North Avenue in Wicker Park and Humboldt Park. The longer the state goes without a budget, the longer it will take IDOT to resurface the street.
Last month, the Illinois Senate approved a full-year budget that would give Gov. Rauner the authority to spend gas tax and road fund revenues on state transportation projects. Without the spending authority included in a budget, the governor will be unable to use these funds and state roadwork will be suspended.
“The spending plan that the Senate approved last month would not only keep construction projects going, it would also fully fund MAP grants, bring back youth employment grants and keep state universities open,” Aquino said. “The Illinois Senate already passed a budget that provides certainty and stability. It is time to finish the job and end the chaos.”
