The state of Illinois and the Federal Rail Administration have agreed to extend funding for the passenger rail project linking the Quad Cities to Chicago.
When Illinoisans hit the polls in November, they will see a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot asking whether the state should put transportation funding in a “lockbox” so that it cannot be used for non-related spending.
If the amendment passes, the Illinois Constitution would be amended to ensure transportation funding is safeguarded from being spent on other purposes, like balancing the state budget.
Citizens to Protect Transportation Funding, a coalition of business, labor and construction groups, is leading the advocacy effort in support of the so-called “Safe Roads Amendment,” which made it onto the November 8 ballot after strong bipartisan approval from the state legislature.
Workforce training is a cheaper, more cost-effective economic development option for states and cities than corporate “megadeals,” a new report from Good Jobs First has found.
Illinois business leaders are urging state lawmakers and the governor to implement a stopgap budget that fully funds transportation infrastructure projects.
As the long-running state budget impasse continues in its eleventh month, activists with Fair Economy Illinois are set to unveil their “People and Planet First Budget” blueprint during a downtown Chicago protest Monday.