The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
The need for a substantial federal transportation bill and continued evaluation of proposed state road projects were key messages conveyed by Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Tim Martin to members of the Highway 34 Coalition during a visit to his offices in Springfield Wednesday, February 2.
Highway 34 Coalition members Tom Doran, Henderson County Board; Linda Utsinger, Galesburg Regional Economic Development Association; Jolene Willis, Western Illinois Economic Development Partnership; Gene Blade, former Coalition Chairman; and Yvonne Knapp, Coalition Secretary, met with IDOT Secretary Martin, IDOT Region 3 Engineer Joe Crowe, and Jacqui Bevelheimer and Ben Denney from Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity's West Central Region Opportunity Returns program to receive updates on the funding progress for Illinois road projects.
"We're waiting to see what Washington brings," said Secretary Martin. "If a federal transportation bill is below $300 billion for the next six years that will not provide us with any funds beyond maintenance."
Secretary Martin expressed the need for supporters of the Highway 34 Coalition to continue communications with the IDOT District office and to support our state and federal legislators as they prioritize the state and nation's needs.
"We appreciate the support that Sen. Durbin and Congressman Evans have given to our cause," said Tom Doran, a member of the Henderson County Board and Highway 34 Coalition. "
We thank them for supporting the reality that we need a robust federal transportation bill to get projects like Highway 34 funded."
Secretary Martin told the Highway 34 Coalition delegation that there is approximately $10 billion in new road projects across the state with the entire price tag of the 22-mile Highway 34 project totaling about $220 million.
"We have not added any new road projects to our multi-year plan in two years," said Secretary Martin.
While the public can't see tangible progress on the road project, the engineering work is underway on the east and west ends of Highway 34 between Gulfport and Monmouth.
The Highway 34 Coalition will observe their 15th anniversary this month and has planned several speaking engagements with the area chambers of commerce and trips to Washington, D.C. later this spring to continue the rally of support for a completed four-lane between Burlington, IA and Monmouth.
The Highway 34 Coalition is a bi-partisan, bi-state volunteer organization which consists of representatives from Illinois and Iowa economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, governmental entities, businesses and interested individuals advocating for the completion of U.S. 34 as a four-lane highway between Burlington, IA and Monmouth.
Members of the Highway 34 Coalition Board and IL DCEO West Central Region Opportunity Returns staff visit with IDOT Secretary Tim Martin (center) and Joe Crowe, IDOT Region 3 Engineer during a recent visit to Springfield to discuss the progress of the four-lane expansion of Highway 34 between Burlington, IA and Monmouth.
-photo submitted by Jolene Willis