SPRINGFIELD | While they might be nice to have, refurbished roads, bridges, schools, prisons and university buildings can be pretty expensive.

It's a lesson Illinois lawmakers have learned over the past year.

And now that the General Assembly has finished its work on a bailout of Chicago area mass transit systems, lawmakers have begun looking at the next big target: a major statewide construction program.

Lawmakers from across the state have lots of different wants -- everything from new tracks for Chicago's famous elevated trains to new buildings at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale or bridges across the state.

The sticking point is how to pay for all of it.

So far, the most widely considered method is gambling expansion. But some lawmakers want the benefits of a construction plan without the challenge of regulating additional gaming.

State Rep. John Bradley, D-Marion, said he won't vote for gambling to pay for capital projects, but he doesn't have a different idea to back.

Meanwhile, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, will entertain gaming expansion to pay for a capital program, but only if it includes safeguards on the use of the money accumulated through new casinos and slot machines and limits access to organized crime or political elements.

Downstate Republican lawmakers aren't holding their breath for a statewide construction program. Across the aisle however, their Democratic counterparts believe a plan to fund a capital bill -- which the state has been without since George Ryan was governor in 1999 -- sits just beyond the horizon now that the Chicago area mass transit bailout appears complete.

Some House Democrats have questioned Madigan's desire to push a construction bill.

And even if he did, most lawmakers lobbying for a construction bill said the next hurdle is trusting Gov. Rod Blagojevich to sign a measure that showers billions of dollars in projects all over the state and not limit funding to supporters.

"Those in tight legislative races may get more funding. Those with more affiliation to the governor may get more projects released," said state Rep. David Miller, D-Lynwood. "If there's a problem between the administration and a state representative, they may be moved down the list."

Despite any trust issues lawmakers may have with the governor, Blagojevich spokeswoman Rebecca Rausch said his eyes are on approving a capital bill.

"Illinois needs a capital bill and the need is clear," she said. "I can't think of a reason why a lawmaker would put these issues before voting for a capital bill."

-- Lee News Service writer Kartikay Mehrotra contributed to this report.

-- Mike Riopell can be reached at mike.riopell@lee.net or (217) 789-0865.