http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/p...litics-utiltop
Transit woes are not going any place
Governor candidates tell how to improve area's transportation
By Rick Pearson
Tribune political reporter
Published September 25, 2006
High gasoline prices, increasing demand on mass transit and continued metropolitan growth that strains road and rail networks will increase pressure on the state's next governor to deal with travel congestion.
In responding to the third in a series of Tribune questionnaires on issues facing voters in the Nov. 7 election, the candidates for governor find themselves looking at transportation solutions not only for tomorrow, but far into the future.
Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich points the finger at Republican legislators for the failure of a $2.3 billion bond-funded road program that he contends would leverage an additional $1.5 billion in federal highway funds, and generate $425 million for mass transit, capturing another $1.7 billion in federal money.
"I had hoped that the General Assembly would accept this proposal. But it was struck down on partisan grounds," Blagojevich said.
Blagojevich has not been able to pass a bond-funded construction plan during his tenure as governor, due largely to a legislative requirement in the state constitution that makes support from Republicans a prerequisite.
Republicans, however, have maintained that they do not believe the Democratic governor will back projects in GOP-dominated areas.
Republican governor candidate Judy Baar Topinka, the three-term state treasurer, has proposed spending at least $2 billion on transportation as part of a revenue plan that is based on a land-based casino for Chicago and expanded gambling at current riverboat casinos. Blagojevich has labeled Topinka's plan a "gimmick."
"Illinois has not had a capital program in four years and now has huge capital needs. We have to move forward or risk losing federal dollars available to Illinois for infrastructure projects," Topinka said.
Green Party candidate Richard Whitney said highway funding should be focused on maintenance, repair and resurfacing, "not expanding our network of roads and highways to support an increasingly impractical form of transportation."
Instead, Whitney said more focus should be placed on "energy-efficient and environmentally friendly" forms of transportation, including rail, and "smarter urban planning that can make bicycle and pedestrian commutes more feasible."
Blagojevich maintained he has no interest in selling or leasing the tollway, noting his efforts to reduce tollway congestion by aiming to make Illinois the first state to feature "open-road tolling" systemwide.
Topinka opposes a tollway sale or lease, warning it would allow lawmakers to spend money without regard to the motorists who paid for the system.
Whitney said motorists would be the losers in such a deal through higher tolls and less public accountability.
As for the region's air-traffic issues, Whitney said he opposed both the multibillion-dollar expansion of O'Hare International Airport as well as plans for a third regional airport near Peotone.
"I believe that most of the support for the O'Hare expansion and/or south suburban airport is being generated by wealthy development interests who don't have the best interests of the people in mind," Whitney said.
Blagojevich said he backs the O'Hare and Peotone projects as well as expansion of regional airports, like the one in Rockford. "The modernization of O'Hare benefits the entire state of Illinois," Blagojevich said.
The governor acknowledged that disputes over the local political control of Peotone continue and "more needs to be done" to resolve differences to move the project forward.
Topinka said she would work with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley in support of O'Hare modernization and would also bring together the political factions battling over control of a south suburban airport.
On the need for local improvements in mass transit, Blagojevich said he had approved increased dollars for the Regional Transportation Authority and said he would work for better "integration" of the Chicago region's transportation systems.
Topinka said she would work with the Chicago area's political and transit leadership on improved funding and said she believes more should be done for Downstate transit projects.
But, she said, "The State of Illinois has very serious financial problems, too, and the state's options are limited. I cannot make promises for more state support until this state's fiscal problems are under control."
Whitney said strong state support for the RTA, including funding to close an anticipated budget deficit and money for capital projects, was a higher priority than auto or air transportation projects. He also said the state needed to explore expansion of mass transit Downstate, and intercity train and light rail projects.
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Responses from Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich
Responses from Republican governor candidate Judy Baar Topinka
Responses from Green Party candidate Richard Whitney