There's good news and bad news in a new report on the state of transportation infrastructure in the state of Illinois.
John Greenfield reports on a new report by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), which finds $43 billion in needed transportation infrastructure investments in the state of Illinois over the next decade. But there's good news: "the nonprofit argues that this goal is achievable if leaders recognize the importance of facing the problem head-on by creating a new funding stream, rather than dealing with the costly consequences of continuing to neglect our transportation network."
According to Greenfield, the report also includes its suggestion for a new revenue stream that would go a long way to fixing the state's existing and looming infrastructure deficiencies: raising the state gas tax by 30 cents a gallon, and increasing registration fees by 50 percent.
Greenfield also shares some of the bad news about the current state of the state's roads, bridges, and transit lines. Spoiler alert: a bad situation is likely to get a lot worse by 2030 if a new revenue stream isn't made available.
FULL STORY: MPC: We Can Solve IL Infrastructure Woes via Higher Gas Tax, Vehicle Fees
Constitutional Amendment Would Shift Some Gas Tax Revenue to Transit Spending in Nevada
Democratic legislators in Nevada are considering a constitutional amendment that would allow the state to use gas tax revenues for transportation projects other than road construction, maintenance, and repair.
Rebuilding America's Backbone: A Call for Resilient Infrastructure
How sustainable investments in infrastructure made today can secure the future.
Pennsylvania Adopts State Transportation Plan
The plan addresses roads, transit, and other transportation infrastructure over the next 12 years.
Montreal Mall to Become 6,000 Housing Units
Place Versailles will be transformed into a mixed-use complex over the next 25 years.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.
Tenant Advocates: Rent Gouging Rampant After LA Wildfires
The Rent Brigade says it's found evidence of thousands of likely instances of rent gouging. In some cases, the landlords accused of exploiting the fires had made campaign donations to those responsible for enforcement.
Seattle’s Upzoning Plan is Ambitious, Light on Details
The city passed a ‘bare-bones’ framework to comply with state housing laws that paves the way for more middle housing, but the debate over how and where to build is just getting started.
DOJ Seeks to End USDOT Affirmative Action Program
The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program encouraged contracting with minority- and women-owned businesses in the transportation sector, where these groups are vastly underrepresented.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada