Sign of the times on toll plazas as Blagojevich's name disappears

Sure, fancy-pants foreign correspondents can drone on about witnessing jubilant Iraqis tearing down the statue of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

But I had the once-in-a lifetime opportunity Friday of watching former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's name vanish from a sign on the Boughton Road toll plaza overlooking I-355.

OK, the hated Iraqi dictator, responsible for a reign of terror and the deaths of myriad victims, is not the equivalent of Blagojevich, arrested on corruption charges in December, impeached on Thursday and loudly proclaiming his innocence.

But certainly it was exhilarating to see drivers hoot their horns and give the thumbs up signal, compared to other hand gestures directed at the former governor's name.

By Monday, 32 Rod. R. Blagojevich signs will be covered up with overlays that provide the name and number of the toll plaza - practical, not political, information drivers can use.

And more changes could be under way with newly minted Gov. Pat Quinn in charge.

Quinn wants to scrutinize the agency's controversial plan to create "Green Lanes," or carpool lanes on sections of highly traveled toll roads plus build or improve interchanges. Blagojevich was caught on an FBI wiretap talking about how he could strong-arm a $500,000 campaign donation from a concrete company in exchange for construction contracts.

Perhaps mindful of a new boss waiting in the wings, officials revisited the Green Lanes concept at a Thursday meeting during a discussion of an unrelated topic, the Prairie Parkway.

First, Director James Roolf stressed how the agency always thoroughly vetted ideas such as the Green Lanes. Then, Chairman John Mitola noted the tollway has consistently promoted green technology and said "the notion the tollway in any way operates as an isolated island is not accurate."

But as the agency moves into the future with Gov. Quinn, it may take a while to exorcise the ghost of the old one.

A number of transactions approved Thursday, included firms that also are Blagojevich contributors, according to state records.

Some examples:

• Apex Consulting Engineers received a $95,000 supplemental contract. Between 2005 and 2008, the firm donated $21,500 to Friends of Blagojevich.

• Plote Construction got a $1.45 million extra work order. Between 2002 and 2007, it gave $30,500 to FOB.

• Meade Electric Co. got a $1.6 million contract. Gave $1,000 to FOB in 2007.

• IHC Construction received a payment of $107,000 for work on I-355. Gave $10,000 to FOB in 2002.

• GFS Fence Guardrail and Signage received a payment of $73,000 for work on I-90. Gave $2,000 to FOB in 2006.

And how much has Quinn received from these companies in his political career? Zero.

Flotsam and jetsam

• While he's earned accolades from urban planners and members of the U.S. Senate, former Congressman Ray LaHood is getting no respect from Citizens Against Government Waste.

The watchdog group named the recently named U.S. transportation secretary and Peoria native it's "Porker of the Month," a dubious distinction. The group contends that "in his new position, Secretary LaHood will preside over the distribution of tens of billions of tax dollars for transportation projects in the stimulus package that is moving forward in Congress."

The organization blasted LaHood for being an earmarks czar while serving on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and powerful Appropriations Committee. It predicted LaHood will direct millions into the O'Hare Modernization Program, calling it a money-waster.

In fairness, city of Chicago officials predict creating parallel runways and a western terminal at O'Hare will boost safety and create jobs.

And Illinois interest groups representing constituencies ranging from truckers to bicyclists said LaHood's local ties and capacity to bring home the bacon boded well.

I guess pork is a relative concept.

• Yes, driving is miserable these days with salt, storms and snowplows. But the Chicago Auto Show organizers are out-of-control optimists. "Let's make it big. Let's make it fun. Let's make it affordable," a media preview states.

You've got to give them credit for perkiness. The show runs Feb. 13 to 22. For more information, check out chicagoautoshow.com.

• Just call him the Big Choo-Choo. On the heels of LaHood's ascendancy to Cabinet secretary, another Illinoisan is getting a national transportation job. The former mayor of Macomb, Thomas C. Carper, recently was named as Amtrak board chairman. Carper will head up the passenger rail agency that's responsible for a daily average of 70,000 passengers and is facing a chronic funding shortage.