By Joe Ragusa
BLOOMINGTON – The Illinois Department of Transportation is listening to suggestions on how to improve the state’s infrastructure in tough financial times.
Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn hosted the meeting at Bloomington City Hall Thursday. He says funding for roads follows a boom-and-bust cycle.
“We do a capital program and it’s good for five or six years, and we’re really high and we’re spending money and we’re making improvements,” Blankenhorn said. “Then once all that money we’ve bonded is gone, we drop off the cliff, and we are at the cliff.”
Bloomington City Manager David Hales says the only way to keep roads funded is to raise revenue.
“If that takes a constitutional amendment or something of that nature to ensure that the intent of the fee is not jeopardized, then so be it,” Hales said. “But there’s got to be more revenue, and I believe the public, too, will support a (tax) increase if they have the faith and confidence that elected officials will not raid that particular fund.”
Other proposals discussed include changing IDOT’s funding formula and broadening the motor fuel tax to apply to electric vehicles.
IDOT is hosting similar meetings across the state as part of its “Listening Tour.”
Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].
