Transportation group wants more money from Congress

SPRINGFIELD — In calling for more federal money for road and bridge funding, a new report emphasizes in part the effect rundown roads have on suburban commuters.

The Transportation for Illinois Coalition Tuesday released a report urging Congress to approve a long-term funding plan for road, bridge and mass transit improvements.

The report says Chicago-area drivers pay $340 more per year than they should for car maintenance because of shoddy area roads.

And it also points to previously released numbers showing that the average Chicago area commuter loses 71 hours a year to congestion, at a cost of $1,568 per year in lost gasoline.

The group doesn’t call for a specific way to pay for the request, and with Congress focused lately on budget cuts rather than increased spending, asking for more money for infrastructure could be difficult.

Still, Illinois Chamber of Commerce President Doug Whitley said businesses often make decisions on where to locate based on the local infrastructure. Building roads, he said, is one area in which businesses have to rely on government action.

“We consider transportation to be one of the cornerstones of the Illinois economy,” he said.

Congress is debating how exactly to fund infrastructure improvements, but it’s unclear what they’ll decide in the coming months.