Tollway defends carpool lanes in midst of leadership vacuum
Another executive director has left the Illinois tollway just weeks after its previous chief walked, and the FBI is accusing Gov. Rod Blagojevich of shaking down contractors for tollway construction projects. But leaders at the embattled authority said Thursday it's business as usual and defended an ambitious construction program tainted by the scandal embroiling the governor.
Executive Director Jeff Dailey resigned Wednesday, leaving the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority without someone to direct a proposed $1.8 billion project to build and improve interchanges and install carpool lanes.
It was that same initiative the FBI says Rod Blagojevich referred to during taped conversations when the governor suggested that if a certain highway contractor gave $500,000 to his campaign fund, he would expand the scope of the project to the benefit of the contractor. Blagojevich was arrested on corruption charges earlier this month.
"I'm saddened, but the tollway will withstand this," board Chairman John Mitola said at a meeting Thursday. "We will continue to work with local communities on local interchanges and continue to research and plan for future development of carpool and high-occupancy toll lanes.
"I hope the public does not want the tollway to drag its feet when it has good ideas."
But while promising the $1.8 billion program will continue, Mitola said he wants the agency's inspector general to review the decision-making process to ensure it wasn't manipulated. In addition, he directed staff to wait on the implementation of specific plans until a successor to Dailey is named.
The agency's been under fire with critics who suggest the so-called "Green Lanes" were ill-conceived and more of a political creation than a transportation policy.
Members of the trucking industry who oppose the Green Lanes because part of the funding for it will come from truck toll increases spoke out during the meeting.
"We think it was moved for political purposes," said Don Schaefer, executive vice president of the Midwest Trucker's Association. "Our concern is the plan was rammed through without thoughtful consideration."
The concept of car pool lanes has been on the radar screen for at least a decade and planners began focusing on it in early 2007 as they looked at congestion relief strategies, Mitola said, adding that the tollway, not Blagojevich, led the way.
The Green Lanes would be located on existing lanes of the tollway system in heavily used metropolitan areas and cost about $400 million. Cars with two or more occupants could use the lanes for free, drivers of energy-efficient cars, such as the Prius, could use them for a minimal charge and vehicles with single drivers would pay a hefty fee. Officials contend carpooling will make a significant dent in congestion and pollution.
"Nothing that has occurred in the past 10 days will take away from that," Mitola said.
The other aspect of the tollway's $1.8 program includes $1 billion for building an interchange between the Tri-State tollway and I-57 and improving the problematic interchange with I-290/Route 53 and the Jane Addams Tollway.
Mitola said he had not been interviewed by authorities in the Blagojevich probe.
Exit strategy
Dailey's exit comes weeks after he started Nov. 19 and in the wake of his predecessor Brian McPartlin undergoing scrutiny by Attorney General Lisa Madigan. McPartlin tried to take a job with an engineering firm that's done more than $30 million in business with the agency. The state's revolving-door law prevents staffers from accepting employment with contractors for one year after leaving the government but they can apply for waivers from the Illinois Ethics Commission.
McPartlin applied for a waiver but Madigan intervened and recommended it be denied. Last week, McPartlin said he would not take the job.
Tollway officials said Dailey's abrupt departure from his $189,000-a-year position was influenced by McPartlin's situation.
"He was concerned about the constraints placed on executives," seeking to move on in their chosen fields, Mitola said.
It's also unclear if Dailey's job would have been secure if a new governor steps in as a result of the political crisis. By leaving now, without signing any contracts, he's free to apply in the private sector.
"It's difficult to attract and retain the best and brightest, it's difficult when there appears to be a penalty for working in government," Mitola said.
The tollway will start a search for a replacement immediately and in the meantime, the job will be filled by Chief of Staff Dawn Catuara.
The agency also came under fire from Burr Ridge resident Dennis Twohig, who criticized Open Road Tolling signs carrying the governor's name.
Mitola was noncommital about the issue while Director James Roolf said "maybe yes, maybe no," concerning the future of the signs in remarks to the board.