Illinois
COMMENTRY

Illinois FIRST

Illinois is at a crossroads. Almost 74 percent of our state's highways have surpassed their 20-year design lifespan, 90 percent of our state's 4,100 school buildings need repair, and 43 percent of the state's rivers and the vast majority of our lakes are only rated as being in "fair" environmental condition. Simply put, Illinois' infrastructure is falling apart and now is the time to act

Illinois has to continue to take advantage of our nation's record-low interest rates. We must create more jobs and preserve our environment. Our children should have better schools and classrooms. And all this will happen thanks to Illinois FIRST - a five-year, $12 billion Fund for Infrastructure, Roads, Schools and Transit.

Governor George H. Ryan

Illinois has always been at the hub of our nation's transportation infrastructure. We began as part of the great western migration and became the place where the railroads left for the west. Our roads, airports, waterways and shipping lanes quickly made Illinois a 20th century powerhouse. But today our infrastructure is crumbling and we are not ready to meet the demands of the next millennium.

Illinois FIRST is the answer to our crumbling infrastructure because it adds $4.1 billion to the state's existing surface and air transportation programs. It uses $3.7 billion to repair 1,000 miles of road, fix 125 bridges and clear up traffic congestion problems across the state. There is $150 million for safe railroad crossings, $100 million for a high-speed rail network, $160 million for airport projects and approximately $600 million for city and township transportation needs. These investments will strengthen our public transportation infrastructure, decrease congestion and reduce air pollution throughout the state.

Besides decreasing air pollution, Illinois FIRST improves our campgrounds, trails, boat docks and park roads. There is $1.6 billion for projects in local communities to clean up and improve local water and sewer systems, re-develop brownfields (vacant commercial and industrial property with real or perceived environmental contamination) and preserve our historic sites. It upgrades our waste water and drinking water systems, implements flood control measures and gives us the tools to clean up unused urban brownfields and cap abandoned oil wells.

Illinois FIRST is a plan that addresses all of our state's needs, especially those of our children. It doubles our existing school construction program. That means Chicago, Oak Park, Wheaton, Grayslake, Carbondale, Jersey County, Lawrence County, the Quad Cities, Effingham, Wilmington and others will finally receive needed construction and repair money. The state's commitment to build new classrooms and repair aging schools, with Illinois FIRST, will increase to $2.2 billion. With matching funds from local school districts, our state will invest a total of $4.4 billion to meet the basic needs of our children and grandchildren.

Illinois FIRST brings Illinois into the 21st century and gives our future generations a state that is healthy and can compete with the rest of the world. Illinois FIRST increases the annual vehicle registration fees for cars and light trucks, with a 20 percent increase in yearly registration fees paid by the owners of large trucks and an increase in the fee charged to transfer a vehicle title from one owner to another. This proposal is going to generate $560 million annually. Even with these increases Illinois would rank 31st among the states in the total cost a motorist

George H. Ryan was elected Illinois' 38th governor on November 3, 1998. A lifelong resident of Kankakee and a pharmacist, he began his public service as a member of the Kankakee County Board. Ryan also served for 10 years in the state legislature, eight years as lieutenant governor and eight years as secretary of state. Ryan has been honored nationally for his fight against drunk driving. He is also known for support of adult literacy, organ donor programs, and bringing technology to libraries and government.

ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING JULY 1999

must pay to register his or her vehicle. Illinois FIRST also increases the state's liquor tax to the national median, generating $62 million a year. The tax on beer and distilled spirits was last raised 30 years ago and the tax on wine was last raised 40 years ago.

Illinois FIRST creates a unique partnership between state, federal and local governments. It strengthens our state, helps ease the tensions of growth, opens up new educational opportunities and cleans up environmental mistakes that have plagued our communities and prevented economic expansion.

This is the time to meet our infrastructure challenges, because the problem will not go away on its own. The longer we wait to finish our infrastructure improvements, the worse it will get. Doing nothing is not an option. This is the time to act!

The opinions and views of guest commentators are their own and may not represent those of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives or the electric co-ops of Illinois.

6 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING • JULY 1999