Ryan: $676,350 in Illinois FIRST Projects for the West Suburbs

SPRINGFIELD -- Governor George H. Ryan announced today that he is releasing $676,350 in Illinois FIRST funding for projects in the West Suburbs, including $250,000 to the City of Lockport to reconstruct the Farrell Road Bridge over Fiddyment Creek.

Reconstruction of the bridge will help the flow of traffic and reduce safety concerns for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. The new bridge will be wide enough for sidewalks on both sides and will be designed to expand into a future 5-lane roadway. The city is contributing $660,000.

This Illinois FIRST project was initiated by State Sen. Ed Petka, R-Plainfield.

Other Illinois FIRST grants announced by Ryan:

• $200,000 to the Village of Oswego to construct a joint public works facility, in partnership with a local school district, to house village-owned vehicles and school buses.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego.

• $200,000 to the Oswego School District to construct a joint public works facility, in partnership with the village, to house village-owned vehicles and school buses.
  This project was initiated by Cross.

• $10,000 to Development Resources, Inc.,Naperville, to purchase educational equipment for its Education Center.

• $9,350 to the Montgomery & Countryside Fire Protection District to make repairs to a ladder truck and to purchase computer software.
  This project was initiated by State Rep. Timothy L. Schmitz, R-Batavia.

• $7,000 to Aurora Community Study Circles to purchase equipment and supplies for its programs.

Illinois FIRST funds are not part of the state budget's General Revenue Fund. Recently, lagging tax collections brought on by a slowdown in the national economy and the terrorist attacks of September 11 have forced the governor to order spending cuts in the General Revenue Fund that amount to less than 2 percent of total spending. Illinois FIRST monies are derived from separate accounts in the state budget -- the Road Fund and the Fund for Illinois Future -- as well as through the sale of state bonds.