No Blago is a good sign

Politicians plastering their names on Illinois State Toll Highway Authority property is officially a bad idea.

Tollway directors Thursday approved a new policy offering comprehensive guidelines for signs posting everything from construction alerts to directions to tourist attractions.

They also approved language stating "that no signage will be erected on the tollway system containing the name or image of anyone holding public office or any candidate for public office."

It's a turnaround from the days when tollway users were greeted with giant letters spelling out "Open Road Tolling, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich" at 22 toll plazas on the system.

The agency replaced Blagojevich's name with overlays giving toll plaza locations in early February after the Senate removed the governor from office following his impeachment and corruption arrest. It cost $15,000 to redo 32 signs, which cost $15,000 each originally.

Tollway signs "should be for directional purposes and to assist drivers," Acting Executive Director Michael King said.

Asked if the ex-governor had forced the tollway to go against that philosophy, King couldn't say noting he wasn't an employee when the decision was made.

Toll board member James M. Roolf of Will County, who was on the board when new signs to advertise electronic tolls came up for approval, said the fact the governor's name was included didn't come up in discussions nor did he think to ask for samples.

"So shame on me for not catching it in the first place," Roolf said.

If he'd known about the Blagojevich component, "I think there would have been serious debate," Roolf noted.

But after the fact, the tollway had to focus on priorities such as a $6.3 billion congestion relief project, Roolf said, adding "once they were up, I didn't want to spend additional money to change them."

As for the motivation behind the signs, Roolf said some believe it was former Tollway Executive Director Jack Hartman's idea to thank Blagojevich for backing toll increases and massive loans to pay for congestion relief.

The signage guidelines will be available soon on the tollway's Web site.

The agency is regularly approached by communities and businesses that want signs listing everything from malls to historical attractions posted, spokeswoman Joelle McGinnis said.

Factors such as the popularity of a destination and whether it's in a busy urban or quiet rural location will determine what qualifies, McGinnis said, adding a proliferation of signs can be distracting for drivers.