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WNIJ's summary of news items around our state.

New Revenue Sources A Goal For IDOT 'Listening Tour'

idot.illinois.gov

The Illinois Department of Transportation is launching a statewide effort to come up with new revenue sources for construction projects. The state's financial woes have not affected public works projects in the past, but Illinois is beginning to see consequences for under funding maintenance.

IDOT Acting Secretary Randy Blankenhorn says the General Assembly's piecemeal approach to capital construction took the state on a roller coaster ride.

"Transportation facilities take a long time to build," Blankenhorn said. "And so when you can really only plan for five-year increments, you don't plan very well."

Blankenhorn says he's taking suggestions from taxpayers on a more stable form of revenue.

"Anything that is sustainable, that grows over time, that we can count on, without getting through these peaks and valleys, those are the kinds of revenues that we want to talk about," he said.

Blankenhorn will visit nearly 30 cities across Illinois in the next month. He says he'll present Gov. Bruce Rauner with new revenue options for construction after that.

Rauner did not take a position on funding new projects. That includes a years-long proposal to raise the state's gas tax, which has not seen an increase in 25 years.

Meisel works for Capitol News Illinois.
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