Construction season for tollway equals hiring

The Illinois tollway estimated that its $12 billion Move Illinois building program would create myriad jobs. Those predictions already are coming true in-house.

In December, tollway directors will vote on a $266 million proposed operating budget that includes $675,000 to hire 20 new engineering department employees.

The $675,000 represents the cost of the new salaries for six months. In 2013, those salaries will total $1.35 million.

The construction program is being paid for with a toll increase that ramps up Jan. 1.

The higher rates will pay to maintain the system, widen the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90), build an interchange at the Tri-State Tollway and extend the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway to the airport plus build a western bypass.

I-PASS users will spend about 35 to 45 cents more at most toll plazas, and fees at exits and entrances will spike as well.

It's going to be a winter of discontent for suburban drivers and commuters with Metra set to raise its fares Feb. 1.

Which begs the question — are all these hires necessary? Yes, says tollway communications chief Wendy Abrams.

The tollway's capital program is the largest of any toll agency in the nation, Abrams said in an email. “It's the largest capital program of any toll agency — ever. Next year, we plan to spend an additional $241 million in capital expenditures for Move Illinois and about $980 million in 2013 — these expenditures are in addition to what we have already have scheduled for the Congestion-Relief Program.”

In the coming months, the tollway intends to sign 50 engineering contracts worth about $200 million, Abrams said. “Clearly, there will be a significant increase in activity and workload within the engineering department in 2012,” she added.

Here's a sampling of some positions and the annual salaries: executive project engineer for the Elgin O-Hare project, $112,000; senior project engineer, $96,000; project manager for engineering (bridge) $90,000; materials engineer, $90,000; lane closure and permit technician, $30,000; senior manager of strategic planning, $110,000; GIS systems manager, $80,000; intergovernmental agreement manager, $80,000; community relations/outreach manager, $76,000; data entry manager, $60,000; automotive attendant, $43,600; and automotive mechanic, $60,000.

Some of those salaries could change slightly because of experience and other factors, Abrams said.

Why is a community relations manager needed? Abrams said that employee will communicate with groups such as the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, work with communities and come up with an outreach plan.

She said it's cheaper to hire in-house than pay for contract employees, who generally are more expensive because of higher wages, benefits, overhead and profits.

In 2012, $6.75 million is earmarked for consultants to handle construction project management.

Tollway officials said the 20 jobs will be partially offset by not filling 19 vacant toll collector positions. Tollway collectors make an average of $45,000 a year.

Is this the end of the hiring phase? “Our current plan is to manage the Move Illinois program using our existing head count (1,598),” Abrams said.

One more thing

Can't bear Thanksgiving without your extended family, yet hate the idea of a road trip? Two words: Choo choo.

Amtrak will be stuffing Union Station with extra trains on its two busiest days — Nov. 23, the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and Nov. 27, the Sunday after. And if you're traveling between Nov. 23 and Nov. 25, turkey, gravy and pumpkin pie will be on the menu at the train diner.

To buy tickets, visit Amtrak.com or call (800) USA RAIL or (800) 872-7245.

Upcoming

Ÿ The tollway will hold a hearing on its 2012 budget at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 2700 Ogden Ave., Downers Grove.

Ÿ The “Revenge of the Electric Car” runs through Thursday at the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St., Chicago.

Your voice

I-90 commuter Bonnie Anderson of East Dundee says construction season wasn't so bad after all.

“Though I don't travel the (Jane Addams) tollway during rush hours, I drive east from the Beverly entrance ramp past the end of the construction area,” she wrote. “There have always been three lanes open to traffic during these months. Cars have moved without much delay. That is something I have never experienced at various construction sites in the greater Chicago area over many years. I hope that those who were responsible for the planning will know that at least one happy driver is grateful.”

David Hoover of Carol Stream weighed in on another matter: Metra's coming fare hikes.

“Take a look at the amount of pay increases over the last five years that a manager or supervisor and above have received,” he wrote. “Then, give those people a reduction in pay by half that amount. At the same time, limit all overtime compensation to a maximum of 50 percent of the base pay.

“No bonuses are to be paid to ANYONE unless the rate hike is rolled back completely. The pay can be reinstated as a percentage of the rate rollback.

“This way we all feel the pain. The riders are paying a higher rate that the managers say is needed. And the managers are feeling the pain of not having as much of a raise as what they thought they had. Let the management feel the pain that we as riders experience.”

You should know

Sloppy dressing on the part of Metra conductors is irking board Director Jack Schaffer of Cary.

On a recent Metra ride, Schaffer was underwhelmed by a ticket collector wearing a “lime-green Union Pacific baseball cap,” and “what looked like one of our shirts,” plus a sweater that might or might not have been Metra-issued.

“They look so good when they wear a uniform,” he lamented at a Friday board meeting.

Officials promised to work on the dress code issue.

They also approved buying $4 million worth of uniforms. On that same day, directors approved a significant fare increase.

Asked about the timing, Metra administrators said the agency is actually cutting back on new uniforms — from two a year to one.

Shoulder the load

Today marks the debut of Pace's Bus on Shoulder program on I-55. For southeast DuPage County residents, it's a quick alternative to driving to Chicago in rush hour. Buses are allowed to use the expressway shoulder when traffic is slow during peak times. Bus Routes 755 and 855 run from the suburbs to the Loop and Illinois Medical District in the morning and back in the afternoon. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.pacebus.com">pacebus.com</a>.