Here Are the Deets on Good Transportation Stuff Earmarked in the Infrastructure Bill
9:21 PM CDT on June 4, 2019
The infrastructure bill sets aside $275 million for new Amtrak service to Rockford, home of power-pop legends Cheap Trick. However, this is *not* a rendering of the new rail line.
Predictably, the conservative libertarian think tank Illinois Policy Institute is grumpy about the various tax and fee increases that will fund the spending package, particularly the doubling of the state gas tax, which has been stuck at 19 cents a gallon since 1990.
But the kookiest hot-take I've seen about the infrastructure bill was from Sun-Times columnist Phil Kadner who made a dubious comparison between the legislation and Ronald Reagan-style trickle-down economics. That theory, which agues that if you slash taxes for wealthy people, it will benefit working-class folks in the long run, was discredited long ago, but it recently reared its ugly head in form of Donald Trump's corporate tax cuts.
Phil Kadner
Kadner claims that Governor J.B. Pritzker's capital plan represents a variation on that strategy. "In Illinois, the Democratic Party’s theory seems to be if you give the politicians more money, some of it will eventually trickle down to the government programs that actually benefit taxpayers," he writes. "No one is ever held accountable for spending tax money in Illinois."
What's absurd about that claim is that the capital bill specifically earmarks revenue for projects that will benefit the public. Along with funding to construct public buildings and other publics works project, the plan includes a $33 billion, six-year transportation infrastructure program.
More than 23 percent of that money will go to transit, which is less than the 40 percent that was proposed by the Active Transportation Alliance, but about twice as much as was indicated in the initial proposal. And, for the first time ever, $50 million a year will be set aside for walking and biking programs. Here are some of the sustainable transportation projects that received earmarks in the bill, according to Mass Transit Transit Magazine.
The Chicago area's Regional Transit Authority will get $3.6 billion, including the following:
$60 million for repairs to the Green Line's Cottage Grove station
$8 million for improvements to the Harvey Transportation Center
$31.5 million for improvements to the Blue Line's O’Hare branch
$50 million for tactical traction power upgrades on the O’Hare Branch
$220 million in capital upgrades for Pace suburban bus service
Downstate transit agencies weren't left out, receiving over $355 million, including $96 million for an extension of the St. Louis area's Metro Link light rail system from Scott Air Force Base (located southeast of East St. Louis, Illinois) to nearby MidAmerica St. Louis Airport.
St. Louis' MetroLink will be extended a few miles east from Scott Air Force Base to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. Image: Google Maps
Several Amtrak projects also received set-asides:
$100 million for Chicago - Champaign - Carbondale track improvements
$122 million track improvements in Springfield
$275 million for new passenger rail service from Chicago to Rockford
$225 million for new passenger rail service to the Quad Cities
Quad Cities-style pizza. (If you're really jonesing for it, just visit one of Chicago's Roots Pizza locations.)
While there aren't any specific earmarks for walking and biking yet, Active Trans estimates that annual $50 million in bike/ped funding could pay for 125 new projects a year, including safety infrastructure like pedestrian islands and better crosswalks, as well as protected bike lanes and multi-use trails.
So relax Phil Kadner, there's no question that the infrastructure bill includes "government programs that [will] actually benefit taxpayers" -- no trickle-down needed.
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes about transportation and other topics for additional local publications. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.
Saturday's event was a reminder that there's no better way to get to know a neighborhood than taking a walk with others, enjoying live music, and supporting local businesses.