Illiana Expressway: If State Operated Illiana, Would That Remove All Opposition?

Sunday, March 25, 2007

If State Operated Illiana, Would That Remove All Opposition?

Brad at the Everything Else Blog raises an interesting point about opposition to the Illiana Expressway Toll Road:

However he (Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels) still wants to build the 10 mile section from the Illinois and Indiana state line to I-65 as a privatized toll road. I still object to that. To be sure I think it should be a toll road, because money is tight for new roads but it should be built and managed by the state.

The public-private partnership controversy surrounding the Illiana Expressway Toll Road had been raised earlier by Dan at the Move On A Shut Up Blog:

(P)erhaps even more interesting, is that only a portion of the con position is about environmental and/or local concerns, rather it seems that there is a focus on being against privatized roads.

If the Illiana Expressway Toll Road was operated by the State, would that knock off the remaining opposition to the proposed new highway project?

Labels: CAPIT, Corridors Of The Future, Illiana, Illiana Expressway Toll Road, Illiana Legislation, Indiana Senate Bill 1, Interstate, Public Private Toll Roads, Road Construction, Transportation

Greatest Hits | Illiana Expressway News:

New Anti Illiana Expressway Coalition Forms

Illiana Expressway Toll Road Study Area Map

Gov. Mitch Daniels Drops
Plans to Extend The Illiana East Of I-65.

I-80/I-94 Part Of Mexico-Canada Superhighway

Illiana Makes Fed's 'Corridors' List"

2 Comments:

Brad said...: Thanks for reading my blog. ;)

I have less objection to the Lake County leg of the Illiana because I do think there is a need for a by-pass for vehicles going to Indy but not not East. The bottleneck on I94 is from about Halstead Ave. in Ill. to I-65 in Ind. Plus we have been expecting the Lake County portion for 25 years, the Porter Co. leg came as a complete surprise.

My objection to privatized roads revolves around the use and abuse of eminent domain. Eminent domain is intended to be the taking of private property for the public good. Taking private property and then turning it over to private enterprise is a recipe for abuse and corruption. Moreover it smacks of forced redistribution of wealth. It does not matter if it is the Illiana or some other project my objection would be the same about privatization.

I think I also object to how Gov. Daniels what trying to pass the legislation. I sensed we were getting the "bums rush" which puts my hackles up and makes me suspicious that things might not be all that they seem.; March 26, 2007 9:46 AM
Chris said...: Hi Brad,

Thanks for stopping by.

I bet the privatization issue is the biggest hurdle for the Illiana Expressway.

Also, eminent domain is always a thorny subject. That's one reason why the Illiana needs to be addressed before more South Lake Co. land is developed, pushing available roadway space into Jasper and Newton Counties.

If it was a state project, I bet the unions would be sending out people to support the project since it could mean so many jobs for their members.; March 30, 2007 1:36 PM