A Stimulating Parking Deck
The expected federal stimulus package is aimed at relatively short-term projects that are ready to begin almost immediately and will serve as a foundation for state-supported improvements that strengthen transportation infrastructure.
According to the Chicago Tribune, that is what the simulus package is supposed to go towards, not building parking decks for a museum that, even if it eventually does get built, won’t be built for years. Doesn’t that defeat the purpose of the stimulus package? Using federal dollars to put people to work a few years down the road doesn’t help anyone today.
Fix our pothole infested roads, fix the crumbling curbs and sidewalks, start working on the sewer upgrade, build a bike trail next to the Kellar Rail. Don’t build this parking deck.
But you know what? With the Peoria County Board being in the Museum’s back pocket and October 2005 Porker of the Month Ray LaHood as our new Transportation Secretary, I bet they get the dough, and if they do, that will be one more thing they can add to their radio ads… “if you don’t approve the tax increase, we will lose $4 Million Dollars in federal funding.”
December 27th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Yeah, parking decks do not “strengthen transportation infrastructure.” I believe what they’re looking for is road and bridge improvements primarily, but perhaps improvements in rail lines and airport terminals will also be included.