Accelerate Illinois news
Lockbox amendment makes sense for Illinois- Nov 1, 2016
- The first thing Illinois voters will see on their ballot is the Safe Roads Amendment, a referendum to create a “lockbox” to protect transportation funding. In effect, any fee or tax we pay related to transportation, such as the state motor fuel tax drivers pay at the pump, would be…
Data Points: More jobs, but less transit located outside the city of Chicago- Jul 7, 2016
- There’s no denying that Chicago is the primary job center and economic core of the region. The region’s public transportation system aligns well with that fact: Every major rapid transit line connects to the Loop. But, in the seven-county Chicago region (which covers Cook, DuPage,…
43 minutes for $43 billion—Take part Wednesday, May 18, 2016- May 13, 2016
- Potholes. Crumbling bridges. Slow trains. Slower buses. Illinois, we don't have to put up with this . We need $43 billion over 10 years to fix our transportation infrastructure. We're organizing 43 minutes for $43 billion , starting at 11 a.m. (central) on Wednesday, May 18 . It's 43 minutes…
- Momentum strong to amend the Illinois constitution and protect transportation funding
- Apr 22, 2016
- A proposed constitutional amendment in the Illinois General Assembly would protect taxes and fees collected for transportation and dedicate that money to transportation-related spending. As we face a $43 billion deficit in maintaining and investing in our state's transportation network, we need to…
Vote yes for a transportation lockbox- May 11, 2016
- This letter first appeared in the Chicago Sun-Times in response to their editorial, "'Stop me,' says Springfield, 'before I hurt again'." On Election Day this November, Illinois voters will see a proposal on their ballots to amend the state’s constitution to create a…
In the Loop: March 2, 2016- Mar 2, 2016
- In the Loop is your round-up of what’s going on in the transportation world, posted in conjunction with Talking Transit . @metroplanners news Metrpolitan Planning Council (MPC) is proud to announce that Senior Fellow James R. Reilly, will be headlining at the City Club lunch on…
Here's why (and when) public-private partnerships work- Feb 29, 2016
- There exists a social contract between government and the public to provide infrastructure for the people. This contract finds its roots within the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause to provide post roads and dock-yards, the precursors to today’s highways and ports. Today, that…
How can we get excited about maintaining our transportation infrastructure? [VIDEO]- Apr 27, 2015
- As Last Week Tonight with John Oliver pointed out , we love to celebrate the inauguration of new roads, bridges and rails, but we don't get excited about the everyday maintenance that keeps our transportation infrastructure in safe, working condition. We followed a road maintenance crew for a day…
Our roads don't pay for themselves- May 26, 2015
- I bet you’ve said this before: “Why are these roads so terrible and congested? Don’t I pay taxes for this?!” The answer is yes, you do. But those gas taxes and vehicle fees don’t generate nearly enough revenue to cover just the cost of maintaining roads, let alone…
Three reasons Illinois has an infrastructure deficit- Sep 23, 2015
- We know Illinois has a pension and budget crisis. Google pension debt and you’ll find endless results about Illinois; daily media headlines scream how two months into the new fiscal year, the state has yet to pass a budget. What’s not talked about in the budget and pension morass is…
- Dear Governor Rauner: Make transportation a priority
- Jun 22, 2015
- June 22, 2015 Dear Governor Rauner, Senate President John Cullerton, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin: Among the pressing issues facing the State of Illinois this year, Accelerate Illinois is calling on you to make…
Talking Transit: Why the U.S. can’t invest more in transportation infrastructure- Jul 29, 2015
- Get In the Loop on all the latest local, national and international transit headlines. Did you know: It's been six years since the Illinois General Assembly passed a capital infrastructure program. The last one, 2009's Illinois Jobs Now, expired in 2014. This week the U.S. Senate used its…
A new "rusty" perspective from author Jonathan Waldman at MPC Think & Drink- Jul 2, 2015
- Watching the paint dry. Watching the grass grow. Watching rust form. Until I heard Jonathan Waldman speak, I would have lumped these three idioms together. On Tuesday, June 23, a packed MPC conference center listened to stories from Rust: The Longest War . Author Jonathan Waldman enumerated…
Illinois at a standstill while other states move on more transportation funding- Jul 1, 2015
- Today, legislation in six states to raise the motor fuel tax will take effect. Legislators in these states voted to raise the gas tax because they know paying a little extra at the pump will make their constituents’ lives easier—with better roads that will improve traffic congestion,…
Illinois is facing a mounting infrastructure maintenance crisis, and we need more funding to address it- May 13, 2015
- It’s a problem apparent even to investors from abroad : Illinois’ infrastructure is falling apart, and we’re failing to fund its renovation. As a result, our state is struggling to attract new investment and our population is not growing nearly as quickly as those of our peers.…
Accelerate Illinois: With pothole season upon us, maintenance is cool again- Apr 24, 2015
- Potholes are an easy target, but we all hate when our transportation infrastructure is run down and doesn’t work. There’s automobile traffic that costs the Chicago region $7.3 billion in wasted time and fuel , slow zones on the El (I can walk faster!), Metra switches that freeze in the…
Accelerate Illinois: Your soymilk doesn’t just walk to the grocery store- May 20, 2015
- Illinois is the nation’s soybean capital, producing more of this important crop than any other state. In fact, in 2014 Illinois produced a record-breaking yield of 550 million bushels of soybeans—that’s a lot of animal feed and biodiesel! All that production means more than just…
- Rebuilding our vital infrastructure: 18th Street Bridge edition
- May 5, 2015
- In 1890, the city of Chicago already had more than 1 million inhabitants. Think about that fact: 125 years ago, Chicago already had enough residents to place it among today’s 10 largest U.S. cities. Chicago’s long history of being a big city means that much of the infrastructure we…
Yes, there is an upside to tolling our highways- Apr 17, 2015
- According to the Federal Highway Administration, the first toll road was born around 1792 and became known as the Philadelphia Turnpike. Back then, it cost around $12,500 per mile to construct crushed stone surfaces traversed by horse and buggy. It wasn’t until 1880, with the proliferation…
- MPC Roundtable—Accelerate Illinois: Addressing Our Transportation Funding Shortfalls
- Mar 24, 2015
- MPC’s roundtable featured Kirk Steudle director of Michigan’s Dept. of Transportation since 2006. Steudle's presentation describes various Michigan transportation challenges and explains how the Wolverine State is planning to fund the maintenance of its road, bridge and transit system…
Accelerate Illinois: We must invest more in Illinois' vital transit network- Mar 12, 2015
- More than any other Midwest state, Illinois relies on a variety of public transportation options. In northeastern Illinois, hundreds of thousands of people count on convenient transit service to get to work. For travelers throughout the state, Amtrak trains are an increasingly popular option. And…
Have you ever attended a ribbon cutting for a pothole?- Mar 24, 2015
- The share of Michigan’s roads in poor condition increased from 12 percent a decade ago to more than 30 percent today, a stunning fact described by Michigan Dept. of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle at the Metropolitan Planning Council’s roundtable on Friday, March 20, sponsored by…
Talking Transit: Accelerate Illinois proposes new funding for transportation infrastructure- Feb 25, 2015
- Published monthly, MPC’s Talking Transit provides updates about transit-related activities around the world. Get In the Loop on all the latest local, national and international transit headlines . Did you know? New Ill. Gov. Bruce Rauner announced last week that the state’s…
In the Loop: February 25, 2015- Feb 25, 2015
- In the Loop is your round-up of what’s going on in the transportation world, posted in conjunction with Talking Transit . @metroplanners news This month, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) launched the Accelerate Illinois campaign in association with several partners,…
- New Accelerate Illinois campaign makes case for improving people’s lives and the economy by increasing investment in Illinois’ transportation system
- Feb 17, 2015
- Campaign highlights the steep cost to individuals and the economy of the poor state of Illinois’ roads, rails and bridges (Chicago) … From crumbling roads and bridges to slow, crowded transit lines, most Illinoisans have a frustrating transportation experience at least once a week,…