- Pritzker Defends Illinois Tollway's Rate Hike
- Jakarta’s Inner City Toll Road Reopens After Parliamentary Protests
- New Brunswick Premier Fields Pushback Over Proposed Tolling Site
- Delaware River Bridges Will Be Lit In Pink To Honor Dolly Parton
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Pritzker Defends Illinois Tollway's Rate Hike
The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI), an influential think tank that has vocally opposed the Illinois Tollway’s recently approved rate hike and rate-setting overhaul, has published a blog post that quotes Governor JB Pritzker (D) defending the new policy, even as IPI slams him for supporting it.
“‘Let’s be clear. We want to make sure that our roads are pothole-free, that we’re making sure to build more so we can build our economy across the state of Illinois,’” Pritzker said last week at the Illinois State Fair. “‘That was something voted on by the tollway authority,’” Pritzker also said.
IPI notes that all eight current members of the nine-member body are appointed by the state’s sitting governor. As ex-officio members, Pritzker and the Transportation Secretary did not vote.
“Illinoisians can see through the political gamesmanship. Pritzker should take responsibility for a toll increase that will worsen the affordability crisis.”
The article also frames the new tolling policy as part of a political deal with labor unions to negotiate a “bailout” of Chicagoland public transportation.
Jakarta’s Inner City Toll Road Reopens After Parliamentary Protests
Indonesia’s state-controlled toll road operator Jasa Marga closed Jakarta’s Inner Ring Road, or Inner City Toll Road, Thursday night after a public protest in front of the Indonesian Parliament spilled onto the roadway, Jakarta Globe reports. The demonstration rallied around “an asset forfeiture law and protested several government policies.”
Motorists were advised to avoid the facility, and police temporarily stopped traffic in front of the parliamentary complex to keep vehicles and protesters separated. Vehicles caught in place were ordered to turn around, and were directed through emergency exits.
According to Aktualita.co, the facility was reopened to traffic Friday morning, and toll gates resumed operations. A damage assessment from the incident is underway.
New Brunswick Premier Fields Pushback Over Proposed Tolling Site
A proposed tolling site on the Trans-Canada Highway near Nova Scotia has raised concerns from local officials, NB Media Co-op reports. New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt defended the selection of Aulac for the toll as a necessary means of helping to fund the region’s infrastructure, but fielded heavy pushback from council members in nearby Tantramar last week.
A prime concern is that the toll would pose a barrier to travel for families and loved ones on either side of the closely knit community. There’s also worry about the cost impact for people who need to reach jobs or health care. Holt recognized the challenges, but said “‘there’s an opportunity for some creativity here.’”
She suggested a deeply discounted friends-and-family pass may alleviate the financial burden for socializing, and Nova Scotia may subsidize toll passes for health care professionals. She also emphasized that the proposed site was chosen, in part, because an alternate route exists.
However, Tantramar Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Borne countered that the alternate Route 970, a roadway without a shoulder, is inadequate to handle the likely traffic from toll diversion. It was also suggested that a friends-and-family pass would be unwieldy to administer.
“‘So what are your suggestions?’ Holt asked quietly.”
“‘Not yours,’ Borne replied as everyone around the table laughed.”
Delaware River Bridges Will Be Lit In Pink To Honor Dolly Parton
“The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission will honor the late country music legend Dolly Parton by illuminating four of its bridges in pink on Friday and Saturday nights,” Patch (New Hope-Lambertville, PA) reports. The iconic country music singer known the world over died Tuesday night after a brief battle with cancer.
“‘She never saw a door she couldn’t open, and the doors she opened made and changed history,’” Bryan Seaver, Parton’s nephew and head of security, said in a video posted to the entertainer’s Instagram account.
President Donald J. Trump has ordered the American flag to be lowered for a week in her honor.
TRN notes, the entertainer also championed children’s literacy through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.
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