State senator Jeff Schoenberg, chairman of the appropriations committee of the state upper house is continuing with plans for hearings on a toll concession on the Illinois Tollway.

Schoenberg said criticisms of a public-private partnership involving the tollway "are unfounded and premature" until a bipartisan legislative panel receives an analysis of the anticipated proceeds from privatizing the tollway.

The idea of a toll concession took a heavy blow a few weeks back when Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich announced he was against such privatization. Blagojevich is running for re-election this November and is a strong favorite to win another 4 year term.
Senator Schoenberg in a statement yesterday obliquely aimed at Blagojevich a fellow Democrat said:

"Until that study is completed and the many complex legal and policy issues are examined through a transparent process of statewide public hearings, it is premature to make any final decision about whether selling or leasing the tollway is in the best interests of Illinois taxpayers."

Schoenberg has advocated that the proceeds of any concession/lease involving the tollway be devoted to funding transportation and aggressively paying down the state's unfunded pension liabilities.

Meetings are scheduled:

* Lake County to hear from labor unions, reformists and Mary Peters July 20

* State Capitol on legal issues Aug 23

* Carbondale southern Illinois on downstate needs Aug 24

There will be two more hearings. The Senate has also hired consultants as part of a study.

"This could be the largest public transaction in state history, which is why it is critical that we make every effort to bring even more accountability and transparency to the public debate over whether we should enter into a public-private partnership involving any public asset, including the Illinois Tollway," Schoenberg said.

There has been speculation a concession could bring the state at least $10b in upfront concession fees. TOLLROADSnews 2006-07-1