Transportation Updates

MTD is testing a new tracking system that could replace their 15 year old current system. From the News-Gazette last month:

MTD testing dispatch tech upgrade that may allow real-time info on reroutes
...
The new cellular technology would replace the UHF data-radio system that's been used since the MTD's two-way Computer Aided Dispatching/Automatic Vehicle Location system was installed...

The MTD is planning to try out the new technology on two or three buses in a one-year pilot program set to start before June 30, now that its board approved it Wednesday along with the $66,700 expense involved.

The money is largely for software, and 65 percent of the cost will be reimbursed by a state operating grant, Gnadt said.

If the pilot involving a few buses is considered successful, the rest of the MTD's buses could be added at a minimal expense, according to Gnadt.

The MTD wants to make this change because cellular-data communication is more reliable and has a greater range, he said.

Full article here. A recent mailbag question on why our tax money isn't used more proactively on winter road issues highlighted the limited resources and efforts:

...With the gas taxes both cities have implemented, why haven't they also become proactive with their asset management policies?"

...

To put that nearly $2 million of gas taxes in context we have budgeted nearly that exact amount of gas taxes to resurface Lincoln Avenue from Green Street to University Avenue and Springfield Avenue from Gregory Street to Coler Avenue and bring sidewalks along those streets into compliance with the federally mandated American Disabilities Act. In other words, our annual gas tax revenues are barely enough to fund a single major project per year."

And this from Kris Koester, spokesman for Champaign's Public Works Department: "The city of Champaign adheres to a hybrid model of what has been described by IDOT and Urbana. Examples where we are trying to extend the life of pavements include the sealing of oil and chip streets on a three-year cycle; concrete patching of joints on concrete streets like Mattis (between Kirby and Windsor); and in-house asphalt patching of localized failures and joints on asphalt streets such as Mattis (between John and Kirby) or Neil Street between Maple and Main. We also do asset maintenance through the city's emergency infrastructure repair program which replaces localized areas of failed pavement where most of the street is in decent condition."

More at the full question and answer in the March 15th Mailbag here. The president of the Township Highway Commissioners of Illinois recently wrote a letter to the editor asking for more support for township road budgets and cited some fiscal realities to bolster his case:

We are hearing that the state might pass a transportation capital program this year. I am fielding many questions and comments about what has been happening with the existing money.

Short answer for Illinois township roads? A lot less than we were able to do 19 years ago. Why? Township roads comprise 49.5 percent of our Illinois public road system. They receive a percentage share of only MFT (Motor Fuel Tax) paid at the pump by motorists and collected by the state.

The current percentage has been in place since Jan. 1, 2000, however, MFT itself has remained at 19 cents per gallon, with an additional 2.5 cents per gallon on diesel, since Jan. 1, 1990, or for 29 years.

As a result, MFT to township roads has actually fallen from $98.6 million in 2000 to $92.6 million in 2018, while traffic has increased substantially in volume, size and weight.

Costs to provide basic maintenance on township roads increased 139 percent from 2000 to 2014. MFT decreased 1.3 percent over that same period, meaning only 4.1 miles of township roads could be maintained in 2014 for every 10 miles maintained in 2000.

Full letter here. And there was also a very short blurb about an opportunity for public input on the Bloomington road project is coming up April 1st, from another blurb in today's paper:

Cross Construction will hold a public meeting regarding its upcoming project on Bloomington Road between Prospect and Mattis avenues.

Officials will provide information about the

project at the meeting, scheduled for 4:30-6:30 p.m. April 1 at Jericho Missionary Baptist Church, 1601 W. Bloomington Road, C.

From the eEdition for digital subscribers here.