I-39/US 51/US 20 improvements

[I-39]

What is taking so long on rebuilding/reconfiguring the I-39/US 51 and US 20 system interchange, rebuilding the US 20 Harrison Ave interchange as well as rebuilding/widening to six lanes. Other than rebuilding the Perryville Road crossroad bridge, no construction in this segment is programmed for the FY 2016-2020.

I was just driving through this interchange recently and it is getting borderline nonfunctional (particularly during rush hour). They need to get going on these improvements.

[ET21]

Broke state. Beating a dead horse at this point with that statement

[Joe The Dragon]

Broke state. Beating a dead horse at this point with that statement

Maybe if that road where toll

[cwm1276]

District 2 will admit they never thought 39 would carry the amount of it does already. Their traffic estimates were low. Now they are trying to figure out how to improve it to at least 88, but since it was never on the radar no money was even planned.

Combine that with the state being broke, it will just get worse.  I have avoided the 20-88 section since it is being resurfaced and sections down to single lanes. IDOT knows of the traffic issues as most of that work is done at night, in completely rural areas and special slow or stopped traffic signs posted on the interstate.

[ET21]

Broke state. Beating a dead horse at this point with that statement

Maybe if that road where toll

I-39 tolled? Doubt it.

[Joe The Dragon]

Broke state. Beating a dead horse at this point with that statement

Maybe if that road where toll

I-39 tolled? Doubt it.

US20 Rockford to dubque toll?

[mrose]

It's Illinois?

[johndoe780]

District 2 will admit they never thought 39 would carry the amount of it does already. Their traffic estimates were low. Now they are trying to figure out how to improve it to at least 88, but since it was never on the radar no money was even planned.

Combine that with the state being broke, it will just get worse.  I have avoided the 20-88 section since it is being resurfaced and sections down to single lanes. IDOT knows of the traffic issues as most of that work is done at night, in completely rural areas and special slow or stopped traffic signs posted on the interstate.

I agree with you completely. i-39 is at the point where it's busting at the seams and 6 lanes should be done within the next 10 years. Maybe, just maybe it'll go to Salem one day.

Given the fact that every other state increased their gas tax. I wouldn't be surprised if Illinois increased gas tax by at ;east 10 cents within this year or next to help pay for a backlog of projects that need to be completed as well as allow counties to increase their gas tax as well which is capped at 4 cents for collar counties and 6 cents for Cook county.

[Rothman]

There has actually been strong resistance to increasing the state gas taxes in NY -- NY does tax gas the most in the country and lets its "dedicated" highway fund be used for other purposes every year.  I believe one cap that was imposed is that gas is only taxed on the first $2 of the gas price.

At least, the feeling around here is that raising gas taxes is a quixotic idea; I'd be shocked if that weren't the case in Illinois.

[Revive 755]

I-39 tolled? Doubt it.

I haven't heard anything about tolling existing I-39, but there was a state legislator a couple years ago who talked about tolling I-55 to rebuild and six lane it across Illinois.  I-80 has also been mentioned as a candidate for handing over to ISTHA.  Tolling I-39 for rebuilding and widening may come up more in the next decade.

(Fictional Territory) I'd certainly be happy for a small toll if it would get I-55's Des Plaines River Bridges at Joliet replaced with a 6+ lane structure much sooner.

[johndoe780]

There has actually been strong resistance to increasing the state gas taxes in NY -- NY does tax gas the most in the country and lets its "dedicated" highway fund be used for other purposes every year.  I believe one cap that was imposed is that gas is only taxed on the first $2 of the gas price.

At least, the feeling around here is that raising gas taxes is a quixotic idea; I'd be shocked if that weren't the case in Illinois.

While I agree that there is some mismanagement with the gas tax. For example, there was a surplus last year in the gas tax in Illinois and it went toward paying for the deficit for example. Most of the fraud and waste in the gas tax I would say are stupid things like "beautification" or "public transportation" or "bike paths." Cool things that should be supported, but not with the gas tax. Gas tax should go towards the roads, not anything else.

Here's a pie chart showing how the gas tax doesn't bring in enough dough as it used to. With inflation, rising MPG standards, more people using public transportation, etc. Gas tax should be raised or more tolled highways. I wouldn't complain too much if they raised the gas tax a nickel or a dime a gallon, so long as at LEAST 80-90% of the gas tax went back towards the roads. IDOT tends to do a fairly good job sharing half the gas tax collected with the individual municipalities. What the municipalities do with the gas tax can be questionable however. Heck if the nuclear deal with Iran goes well, we should expect sub $2 gas. That's long enough to hold me until the Tesla model 3 comes out in a few years.

http://reboot.rebootillinois.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/gas-tax-chart-1-e1428583695216.png