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House Republicans to discuss area Infrastructure needs at Capital Roundtable in Macomb For Immediate Release March 26, 2008 Macomb, IL…With the need for road, bridge and school improvements continuing to mount and a dreary economic outlook on the horizon, State Representatives Rich Myers, Jil Tracy, Don Moffitt and Dan Brady will be hosting a Capital Roundtable Discussion Monday, March 31st in the Community Room at the Macomb City Hall (232 East Jackson St. Macomb, IL) to meet with local groups and discuss the infrastructure priorities of area communities. “The residents of Illinois have waited nearly eight years since the last major investment in our infrastructure,” stated Representative Myers (R-Colchester). “It is the duty of the state to maintain and improve our roads, bridges and schools but as of right now these needs are being neglected.” House Republicans have been working for over a year now to pass a jobs and capital program that would address our aging infrastructure needs, while also providing a needed boost to the state’s economy. It has been figured that for every $1 billion spent on capital, the state would create an estimated 47,000 well-paying jobs. A capital program is not only critical to ensuring we have safe roads and bridges, but would also be a great first step to getting our economy back on track. “When families have jobs, they have money to pay for rent or a mortgage as well as necessary items such as utilities, clothing, groceries, and medications,” said Moffitt (R-Galesburg). “Tax revenues are generated from these expenditures which are then used to support services and programs at all levels of government as well as the schools our children attend. That is why creating more jobs is essential to improving our economy and providing families with the items and services they need.” Although out of the country, State Representative Watson (R-Jacksonville) reasserted the importance of a capital program for the 97th district and the rest of the state. “With the amount of traffic on some of these roadways, there is just no way that they can continue to be used in a safe manner in the condition they are presently in,” said Rep. Watson. “Corridor 67 needs the additional funding necessary to continue the expansion to four lanes from Macomb to Jacksonville and Jacksonville down to St. Louis. This road project is vital to the economic growth of my district and Western Illinois as a whole.” State Representatives Jill Tracy (R-Mt. Sterling) and Rich Myers also have ongoing road projects that are presenting safety concerns in their area. “Route 336 from Quincy to Macomb is currently under construction and in the process of being widened, but we still do not have the proper funding necessary to finish the project,” said Rep. Tracy. “The economic benefits from the completion of 336 and Route 67 can not be stated enough. Better roads means improved safety and economic growth for our area.” “While much of Route 336 from Quincy to Macomb has been completed, we need to make certain that revenue is allocated for the next phase from Macomb to Peoria,” said Rep. Myers. “A Macomb bypass on 336 is a project that deserves serious consideration when discussing road needs for the area.” “Other roads, such as US 34, have also become a serious safety hazard as heavy truck traffic and an increasing amount travelers have begun to use the thoroughfare,” according to Representative Myers. “Since 2000 there have been nearly five hundred accidents resulting in ten fatalities on that particular stretch of roadway. Those statistics alone show the drastic need for safety improvements on this and other similar roads across the state.” Higher education facilities throughout the state would also see a slice of the revenue from a capital program. “Our enrollment at Western Illinois University has been growing over the past years and we have a number of new projects we would like to start, but as of now we just do not have the needed revenue to complete these projects. One particular project that has been held up in recent years is the building of a new Performing Arts Center. As the university expands it is imperative we meet the growing needs of all the students,” Rep. Myers said. Representative Moffitt said it is important to keep discussions about an infrastructure and jobs program ongoing. “The governor and the Democrat leaders who control both chambers of the General Assembly continue to express their support, but as we have seen over the last seven years, without action those sentiments remain merely words,” said Rep. Moffitt. “We cannot continue to put other issues first. The safety of our infrastructure and expansions to our state institutions and mass transit systems are an immediate concern. We must begin negotiating the specifics of a capital plan now to ensure that one is passed before the end of the legislative session.” Other Contact Information ####
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©2008 Citizens to Elect Jil Tracy • P.O. Box 3563 • Quincy, IL 62301
