Dist. 48 GOP hopefuls don't agree on how to fund transit
Republican hopefuls in the 48th District state representative race say funding mass transit and other transportation projects is a necessity.
But they don't entirely agree on how to do it.
Three candidates -- College of DuPage Trustee Dave Carlin, DuPage County Board member Michael Connelly and Naperville City Councilman Doug Krause -- are running in the Feb. 5 Republican primary for a spot on the November ballot to replace retiring state Rep. Jim Meyer.
The district includes portions of Naperville, Lisle, Wheaton, Woodridge and Bolingbrook.
Finding ways to fund mass transit recently has been at the forefront of the state legislature.
Lawmakers passed a plan to raise the sales tax in the suburbs by a quarter of a percentage point to bail out bus and train agencies that threatened to cut services and raise fares if they didn't get additional state money.
But Gov. Rod Blagojevich added a provision to the plan giving senior citizens free rides, angering some legislators.
Krause and Carlin each say they would support the sales tax increase for mass transit but not the free ride provision.
Carlin said he would support freebies only for those who really need it -- and most seniors in his district aren't interested.
"They don't want to get a free bus ride today so their grandkids have to pay for it tomorrow," he said.
Connelly said he would not support a bailout but instead wants a comprehensive capital spending plan that would bring significant money to DuPage County.
"I don't have a problem with you earmarking, appropriating money for transportation," he said. "Give me something back. Not bailing out the CTA pension plan and throwing some crumbs at DuPage County."
If a capital spending plan ever becomes a reality, all three say widening Route 59 would be a priority to relieve congestion.
Krause said Naperville has done all the engineering for the widening project through the city and could be ready to implement the plans in July. But for now, he said, there's no money to do it.
The three candidates also support creation of Metra's STAR Line, a suburb-to-suburb commuter line that would extend from Joliet to O'Hare Airport.
Whether the project will become a reality is now in question due to Canadian National Railway's plans to purchase the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern railroad where the new line was to be created. Canadian National has said Metra cannot use the EJ&E tracks but can build alongside them.