Illinois has $700 million list for fed stimulus package
Road-repair projects dominate a nearly $700 million wish list given to the federal government by Illinois transportation officials seeking funding under President Barack Obama's stimulus aimed at turning around the flagging U.S. economy.
Among the projects on the 32-page list obtained Thursday by The Associated Press are a more than $21 million reconstruction of Interstate 294 southwest of Chicago to an $8 million resurfacing of Illinois 33 in Crawford County.
Other requests include $18 million for noise barriers along I-55 through Joliet and more than $35 million for I-55 work in Madison County, which would include bridge replacement. Dozens of other bridge-repair projects also are included.
The transportation department, which previously had refused to release its list, intended to post it on its Web site Friday and seek public comment about the contents, IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin said.
The most notable omission is projects sought by the city of Chicago, though state routes through the city are included on the IDOT list. Mayor Richard Daley's office has released only a short description of what Chicago hopes to do with potential stimulus money, but no specifics.
"Quite honestly, we don't see the value of putting out a list of specifics which we're not sure will come to fruition," Daley spokeswoman Jacquelyn Heard said Thursday.
Critics argue that without public scrutiny, pork, earmarks or otherwise inappropriate projects contained in state and city wish lists are more likely to receive federal funds.
"When it's all done in the smoke-filled rooms and behind closed doors -- that's what feeds public skepticism and that's what makes people think the fix is in," said Steve Ellis, of the Washington, D.C.-based Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Gov. Pat Quinn's office said Thursday it had no intention of releasing lists from all its agencies trying to identify projects that would qualify for stimulus funding, including education or health-related bodies.
"Why would you?" said Quinn spokesman Bob Reed. "Otherwise it's a wish list and what's the sense of making that public -- because all you are going to do is raise hopes that you may not be able to provide for."
Reed said federal and state procedures for selecting projects are not clear, making it impossible for him to say how proposed Illinois projects might be vetted and approved.
"The process has to be a little better defined than it is now," he said.
IDOT's decision to release its list didn't change that, Reed said.
"IDOT has released this information and that's within their province," he said. "Our stance remains the same we're waiting to see how much money the stimulus will provide."