Time to use road money to fix roads

A lot of attention has been given to the candidates running in this year's election, but I want to make sure your readers know about the very first question they will be asked when they go to the polls this November.

The first question on the ballot, though it is full of legal terminology, is really a commonsense one: Should transportation taxes and fees, like the gas tax and vehicle registration, be spent on transportation? I hope you will join me in voting "yes" on this question.

Working in the construction industry, I can't help but notice the poor pavement and aging bridges we are surrounded by. Not just because I would like to be fixing them, but also because I am aware of the impact on the safety, the economy, and the quality of life our infrastructure has.

More than 4,200 Illinois bridges are in poor condition and our pavement is reduced to patchwork and potholes in many areas. This is expensive, when drivers suffer damage from hitting a pothole or rough pavement, and puts Illinois businesses at a competitive disadvantage when moving their goods costs more due to frequent damage to the trucks hauling them.

It is also a safety concern. A national transportation research group estimates that pavement condition and outdated road design contribute to one-third of traffic fatalities.

It's time to tell politicians to keep the promise they made and spend our transportation taxes and fees on their intended purpose.

Nicholas Neri

Addison