Jim Aloisi named new Massachusetts Sec Transport, Blago IL "will fight" (PERSONNEL)

As much reported James A Aloisi is the new Secretary of the Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works of Massachusetts, it having been formally announced this morning by Governor Deval Patrick. In plainer english Jim Aloisi is transportation secretary and will be chairman of the board of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and the transit authority.

A statement from the Governor's office quotes him: "Jim (Aloisi) brings a deep understanding of the challenges we face in reforming our transportation network. He will be a skilled and energetic advocate for our reform agenda.”

Aloisi is a veteran of Massachusetts transportation management and politics and was General Counsel at the Turnpike in the 1990s. He was recently on a transportation finance commission which recommended a vehicle miles traveled charge of 5c/mile on interstates and other major expressways in the state.

Aloisi takes over from Gov Patrick's first pick Bernard Cohen who stepped down - after being nudged towards the stairs - by the Governor and his immediate circle. Cohen was unable to come up with measures that were politically acceptable and effective in coping with the financial problems of the Turnpike and transit authority.

At the Turnpike he set in motion toll increases designed to increase metro segment revenues by about 35% ($90m on $170m) but the plan is caught by a major public and legislative backlash, and it is unclear whether the Turnpike under Aloisi will proceed with them.

Cohen also announced a plan to transfer the metro segment of the Turnpike - about two-thirds of its revenue - to the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) only to have the chief executive of that outfit express doubt about whether he'd accept it.

Around $2 billion of Central Artery or Big Dig debt unsupported by any toll revenues lies at the heart of the Turnpike's financial crisis.  This will be Aloisi's greatest challenge.

The Governor's statement is couched in happy PR talk of "opportunity" and of painless reorganization and economies produced by "working with" the legislature (DIRECT QUOTES FOLLOW):

"The announcement (of Aloisi) comes as the Patrick Administration has a unique opportunity to work with the legislature to bring comprehensive reform over a relatively short amount of time. Governor Patrick believes Aloisi will start working with legislative leaders and the transportation community immediately, in order to deliver on Governor Patrick’s vision for a safe and efficient statewide transit system.

"Aloisi will work closely with Transportation Undersecretary Jeffrey Mullan and other key transit officials on reform initiatives, while continuing the administration’s efforts to identify savings and efficiencies to ensure money from taxes, tolls and fares is spent wisely and effectively. One of EOT’s top priorities in the New Year will be to file and work toward the passage of a comprehensive transportation reform bill, which includes dismantling the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and continuing to invest in transportation infrastructure.

"These reforms will build on the groundwork laid out by the Patrick Administration including implementing the first ever Mobility Compact to coordinate the state’s transportation network, identifying tens of millions of dollars in cost-savings across agencies and making critical capital infrastructure investments.

"In these challenging times, my task will be to keep faith with Governor Patrick's vision to bring the Commonwealth's transportation system into a new era.  In collaboration with the Legislature, Jeff Mullan and other key transportation officials, we will inaugurate a new model of consolidation, creativity and forward-looking thinking,” Aloisi said. “We will do so in a way that is fair to all of our transportation users – everyone from the riders on Regional Transit and MBTA buses, to commuters on MBTA subways and trains, to the motorists using our highways and bridges, and the travelers using our airports.  I am convinced that we can adopt a comprehensive solution that eliminates outdated barriers to reform, and that is respectful of the dedicated men and women who drive those buses, maintain those trains and roads, and operate those airports."

Illinois Gov Blagojevich to fight on

Meanwhile Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appeared before television cameras for the first time since he was arrested on federal corruption charges Dec 9 and declared he'd done nothing wrong and would fight the charges until "his last breath."

He quoted Rudyard Kipling.

Blagojevich asked for the presumption of innocence although the US Government has him on tape discussing shakedowns, and - for readers here - the steering of an Illinois Tollway contract to a contractor in return for $500k. The $1,800m Green lanes and tollway interchange rebuild project could be increased, he said, if the contractor produced more than $500k more, according to the US complaint on which he was arrested.

A governor of Illinois has no legal authority to be involved in contracting at the Tollway which by state law is governed by an independent board of salaried directors with four year terms designed to insulate them from political pressure.

The state attorney-general was unsuccessful this week in having the state supreme court remove Blagojevich from office on grounds he was unfit to serve. Oddly the high court gave no reason for the rejection.

Impeachment proceedings in the legislature are under way, but slowly.

This week the Tollway executive director Jeffrey Dailey resigned after just a month on the job. He was the third executive director under Blagojevich in six years.

TOLLROADSnews 2008-12-19