Quinn predicts tollway announcement soon
He's got IDOT down and the tollway could be next, Gov. Pat Quinn said Saturday while discussing his new choice for Illinois' transportation secretary.
Quinn has slated veteran lawmaker and downstate Democrat Gary Hannig, a certified public accountant, to lead the Illinois Department of Transportation.
As for the state's other major road system - the Illinois tollway, "there will be an announcement soon on changes there and I think we need them," Quinn said at a news conference.
"I think we'll look at the agency from top to bottom. It's important to have a solid tollway system that works for those who use it."
The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has had a revolving door of leaders since Executive Director Brian McPartlin left in October. The agency also was rocked following the corruption arrest of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich who federal prosecutors accuse of shaking down contractors for a new tollway construction program.
Asked why he chose financial over transportation expertise for IDOT, Quinn said Hannig was versed in infrastructure issues and cited his ability to work with different lawmakers and "encyclopedic command of the budget."
Hannig will be making some crucial decisions on allocating the billions the state gets from the federal government in economic stimulus money.
"I want someone who will be fair to all parts of Illinois when investing our transportation dollars," Quinn said.
Recently, leaders with the Regional Transportation Authority, the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace testified before a state panel that a year-old free rides for seniors policy instituted by Blagojevich was costing them millions. Transit agencies estimate the no-fare rule for seniors and for low-income individuals with disabilities totals more than $55 million in lost revenues.
State Rep. Suzi Bassi, a Palatine Republican, is proposing legislation that would restrict the free rides to low-income seniors.
Quinn said it would be imprudent to flip-flop on the issue without a fair trial and praised seniors as "the greatest generation."
"We adopted a law one year, we shouldn't radically change it the next year," he said. "I think the RTA should take a deep breath and move forward instead of looking backward."
Quinn also backed building the controversial third airport near Peotone.
"I believe in the third airport," he said. "The state already has acquired land there and we should continue to do so."