Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Ken Arnold's The “One Bite at the Apple” Act White Paper
The “One Bite at the Apple” Act
BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM:
Increasingly, Chicagoland is a congested and difficult place to traverse. Travel times are growing exponentially and unpredictably vary. This situation, moreover, not only degrades our living environment; but, our ecological and economic environment with the added pollution of automobiles stalled in traffic and inefficient transportation of goods and people across the region.
Much has been discussed about enhancing our ability for travel throughout the suburban Chicagoland area. It’s a given that travel times, and the predictability of them, have already grown intolerably. Many, including Candidate Ken Arnold, believe government needs to project forward 15 to 20 years down the road any such needs construction road construction. Because of inflation and the lack of precise predictions: It is far better to build bridges and highways a little before they’re critically needed -- than far afterward . . .
Admittedly, area citizens need to apply a holistic approach to this entire regional transportation problem. One needs to look not only at one mode of transportation, but all. And one also needs to view the traffic patterns across the entire Chicagoland megatropolis. Motor vehicle, air, and train transport must all be weaved into an entire, integrated picture. Our region has little time to start in earnest on such projects – we already are playing “catch up” with the problems already upon us.
Ken Arnold has several creative and badly need road projects conceptualized. They include not only a creative application of the Federal government regarding the Route 53 Extension project – but even a proposal he calls “The Quad State National Defense Causeway” which would span Lake Michigan from East to West. But most road miles nowadays are not Federal interstate highways – they’re State and local roads. And in these areas, all participating governments must be forced to PLAN AHEAD and not timidly “baby step” their way to expansion.
Far too many times, locally, it has been observed by Candidate Arnold that politicians have “baby stepped” badly needed projects everyone KNEW needed the full solution – NOW. The Route 22 expansion from two to four lanes quickly comes to mind. But there are many other such “incremental projects” that are done out of political fear – but cost the taxpayers at ALL levels dearly!
The Route 22 expansion was a horrendous waste of taxpayer money. All citizens know that Route 22, and most all major east/west thoroughfares, need to become FOUR laned! There is simply too much traffic to otherwise be handled by this former two lane streets and highways. But in the case of Route 22 expansion:
It is easy for timid and spineless political officials to baby step projects such as these under the “foot in the door technique”. Do a first step and let things settle down…then do the second step you knew you’d have to do all along. But should the taxpayers at all levels have to pay for this timidity? Candidate Ken Arnold absolutely says: “NO!”. Consequently, he proposes an initiative that will greatly reduce such regrettable expenses and inefficiencies forever.
SOLUTION:
With many State road projects, and a number of more local roads, some share of the expense is paid for via Federal tax dollars. Under such circumstances, the Federal government can establish an operating policy that not only protects its highway dollars from the squandering earlier outlined – but provides the ready EXCUSE for local politicians to stand firm and “do it right the first time” when it comes to all such highway projects.
The Federal government, under initiative and legislation proposal of then Congressman Ken Arnold, shall enact the following:
“In the payment of matching funds or other cost shares to any State Government or lower governmental entity for the purpose of construction - or modification - of any highway or other thoroughfare, the Federal Government shall pay only ONCE toward any such activity in any ten (10) consecutive year period.”
ADVANTAGES:
The above simple, and therefore perhaps elegant, initiative at the Federal level will greatly diminish – if not put an end – to such tax dollar wasting, weak-kneed, timid actions in road building on the part of all State and local officials. If such officials wish Federal government participation, they would henceforth know they only have “one bite at the apple” every ten years.
This new road building environment does two things locally:
Let’s stop abusing the taxpayers AND the motoring public from timid, short-sighted politicians. Let’s enact the “One Bit at the Apple” Act – NOW!
Written: January, 2006
By: Ken Arnold, Republican Candidate
U.S. Congress – 8th District of Illinois
847-207-1167
ArnoldforCongress@comcast.net
www.ArnoldforCongress.com
ARNOLD for Congress
“ Strong . . . Creative Leadership for the 21st Century ! “
BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM:
Increasingly, Chicagoland is a congested and difficult place to traverse. Travel times are growing exponentially and unpredictably vary. This situation, moreover, not only degrades our living environment; but, our ecological and economic environment with the added pollution of automobiles stalled in traffic and inefficient transportation of goods and people across the region.
Much has been discussed about enhancing our ability for travel throughout the suburban Chicagoland area. It’s a given that travel times, and the predictability of them, have already grown intolerably. Many, including Candidate Ken Arnold, believe government needs to project forward 15 to 20 years down the road any such needs construction road construction. Because of inflation and the lack of precise predictions: It is far better to build bridges and highways a little before they’re critically needed -- than far afterward . . .
Admittedly, area citizens need to apply a holistic approach to this entire regional transportation problem. One needs to look not only at one mode of transportation, but all. And one also needs to view the traffic patterns across the entire Chicagoland megatropolis. Motor vehicle, air, and train transport must all be weaved into an entire, integrated picture. Our region has little time to start in earnest on such projects – we already are playing “catch up” with the problems already upon us.
Ken Arnold has several creative and badly need road projects conceptualized. They include not only a creative application of the Federal government regarding the Route 53 Extension project – but even a proposal he calls “The Quad State National Defense Causeway” which would span Lake Michigan from East to West. But most road miles nowadays are not Federal interstate highways – they’re State and local roads. And in these areas, all participating governments must be forced to PLAN AHEAD and not timidly “baby step” their way to expansion.
Far too many times, locally, it has been observed by Candidate Arnold that politicians have “baby stepped” badly needed projects everyone KNEW needed the full solution – NOW. The Route 22 expansion from two to four lanes quickly comes to mind. But there are many other such “incremental projects” that are done out of political fear – but cost the taxpayers at ALL levels dearly!
The Route 22 expansion was a horrendous waste of taxpayer money. All citizens know that Route 22, and most all major east/west thoroughfares, need to become FOUR laned! There is simply too much traffic to otherwise be handled by this former two lane streets and highways. But in the case of Route 22 expansion:
1) Our government officials first put in three lanes (i.e. still having two lanes but with a center turn lane). This caused much in the way of traffic tie ups and delays as well as required a complete rework of sewer, street light, and traffic light construction.The above two-step/”baby step” process cost taxpayers TWICE what they should have paid for only once. And citizens really paid twice each time: Once in their tax dollars and once in the traffic disruptions they were forced to endure.
2) THEN, approximately seven or eight years later, they tear a lot of that up again – once again disrupting traffic – and put in the FOUR lanes (plus a new and wider bridge) they should have established in the first place but for the political timidity with Lincolnshire and their “Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) syndrome!
It is easy for timid and spineless political officials to baby step projects such as these under the “foot in the door technique”. Do a first step and let things settle down…then do the second step you knew you’d have to do all along. But should the taxpayers at all levels have to pay for this timidity? Candidate Ken Arnold absolutely says: “NO!”. Consequently, he proposes an initiative that will greatly reduce such regrettable expenses and inefficiencies forever.
SOLUTION:
With many State road projects, and a number of more local roads, some share of the expense is paid for via Federal tax dollars. Under such circumstances, the Federal government can establish an operating policy that not only protects its highway dollars from the squandering earlier outlined – but provides the ready EXCUSE for local politicians to stand firm and “do it right the first time” when it comes to all such highway projects.
The Federal government, under initiative and legislation proposal of then Congressman Ken Arnold, shall enact the following:
“In the payment of matching funds or other cost shares to any State Government or lower governmental entity for the purpose of construction - or modification - of any highway or other thoroughfare, the Federal Government shall pay only ONCE toward any such activity in any ten (10) consecutive year period.”
ADVANTAGES:
The above simple, and therefore perhaps elegant, initiative at the Federal level will greatly diminish – if not put an end – to such tax dollar wasting, weak-kneed, timid actions in road building on the part of all State and local officials. If such officials wish Federal government participation, they would henceforth know they only have “one bite at the apple” every ten years.
This new road building environment does two things locally:
1) It forces State and local officials to have planning horizons, and concrete construction plans, that will be projected to meet all needs for a minimum of ten years.Lastly, on a global basis across the citizens and taxpayers at the Federal, State, and local level, this initiative will save sizeable amounts of taxpayer dollars from such “redo” projects. And this says nothing about disrupting traffic ONCE instead of two or three times.
2) It allows those local officials in need of spine transplants to gladly make the Federal government “the bad guy” in their dealings with the most local of residents and public officials. They could even go so far as to say: “If it was me, I would do differently…but the Federal government is forcing us to do this whole project now!”
Let’s stop abusing the taxpayers AND the motoring public from timid, short-sighted politicians. Let’s enact the “One Bit at the Apple” Act – NOW!
Written: January, 2006
By: Ken Arnold, Republican Candidate
U.S. Congress – 8th District of Illinois
847-207-1167
ArnoldforCongress@comcast.net
www.ArnoldforCongress.com
ARNOLD for Congress
“ Strong . . . Creative Leadership for the 21st Century ! “
Labels: 8th Congressional District, Ken Arnold, Roads
# posted by Cal Skinner : 7:05 PM
