Illinois Budget

Illinois Transportation-Boosting Bill Signed by Pritzker

September 3, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

“Illinois is the transportation hub of North America,” said Omer Osman, Illinois Transportation Secretary. “With the distinction comes a huge responsibility that we are investing resources equitably, fairly, and in locations where they make the most sense and do the most good.”

To further stretch taxpayer dollars and to bring much-needed boosts to state transportation infrastructure, Illinois Governor Jay Pritzker has signed into law a new bill.

“Thanks to Governor Pritzker’s vision and the support of the General Assembly, we are making historic improvements in our transportation system with Rebuild Illinois,” Osman continued. “Now, we will have even more tools that will strengthen our project-selection process and make it more transparent.”

The Illinois Department of Transportation will need to implement a new transportation program through the new legislation as a way to increase Illinois’ transportation network capability and efficiency. Additionally, the agency will be required to establish a highway system asset management plan for the entire state, and will also need to develop a project selection process that is performance-based and will make the best use of taxpayer money to keep state infrastructure in top shape.

“As new construction projects pop up around the community, Illinois taxpayers deserve to know the decision behind those projects and the impact it will have on their daily commute, local economy, and overall safety,” explained bill sponsor, Senator Ram Villivalam of Chicago. “By implementing a transparent, equitable, and data-driven system, people can have the peace of mind that their tax dollars are going toward positive change for the area.”

At the top of next year, a multitude of factors will be considered during the project selection process by IDOT through its multi-year plan. These items include accessibility, congestion mitigation, economic development, environmental impact, overall safety, and traffic operation improvement–some of these factors may be considered more strongly than others depending on project details or location.

Additionally, the legislation notes that the department should request opinions and input from members of local communities and the general public, labor and business representatives, metropolitan planning groups, and transportation and transit experts.

IDOT will also be required to create an asset management plan that is need-based and that will work to boost and maintain capital transit facilities and associated infrastructure as efficiently as possible–a plan that will also need to be publicly accessible on the department’s website. This asset management plan will need to include details regarding state facilities, infrastructure, equipment, and state-supported vehicles.

“All plan and program development based on the project selection process described in this subsection shall include consideration of regional balance,” the bill explained.

Because of any given potential project’s ability to help challenges related to environmental impacts and to boost multimodal connections, the bill states that the project prioritization process is considered to be fully in the public interest. Therefore, there will no longer be any capacity projects added to the new, multi-year transportation plan–after April 1st, 2022–that fail to undergo evaluation through the newly-outlined selection process.

The Rebuild Illinois plan, implemented by Pritzker in 2019, has worked to bring support to a variety of transportation and infrastructure projects and further investment into the state’s transit, education, roads, bridges, state parks, clean water infrastructure, and historic sites. It has also brought further funding to local truck route project initiatives and local marine transportation systems.

“I’m proud that Illinois is a supply chain hub for the nation and this administration is committed to investing in our infrastructure to ensure we maintain that vital role,” said Pritzker. “Through the Rebuild Illinois Capital plan–the largest infrastructure investment in Illinois’ history–we’re fixing roads and bridges across the state [and] creating jobs and opportunities in our communities.”

To help fund Rebuild Illinois projects, state fuel tax rates initially doubled in 2019 and have continued to rise since then.

“This legislation will empower the hardworking team at IDOT to ensure those investments go as far as possible,” Pritzker continued. “And by establishing a performance-based selection process, the administration is doubling-down on our commitment to being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Road Extension Project in the Works to Boost Illinois Freight Movement

August 1, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The Houbolt Road Extension project is finally under way in Illinois as freight movement and traffic flow improvement efforts become a main area of focus for state officials.

Joliet, a large intermodal hub based 45 miles southwest of Chicago, will house the 1.5-mile extension of Houbolt Road through its public-private partnership. The extension includes a Des Plaines River-spanning tolled bridge and would offer a highly-needed connection in the form of two lanes of traffic running between a variety of intermodal facilities and Interstate 80. These lanes, which would run in each direction, would aid the heavily-used freight route along I-80 reaching from San Francisco to Teaneck, New Jersey.

Because there is more of an ease to the truck traffic and a closer proximity to I-80 in Will County than in downtown Chicago, Joliet has become a common destination for intermodal traffic in recent years, explained Matt Hart, the Executive Director of the Illinois Trucking Association. The trucks that would utilize the bridge linking the Houbolt Road route would be able to easily reach State Route 53 or Arsenal Road via Interstate 55 through this extension.

“We have been encouraging additional capacity there for a long time,” explained Hart. “This will add to the capacity. It will allow trucks better access to this area. That being said, it’s also a bridge that is going to be paid for by tolls on trucks. So, it will provide more capacity, but it’s going to come at a price.”

The city of Joliet will monitor the state-committed $32 million that has been dedicated to the project and will collaborate in these expansion efforts alongside the Illinois Department of Transportation. Industrial real estate firm CenterPoint Properties has been commissioned to construct and operate the new bridge.

“Today we joined CenterPoint Properties, Will County, and the city of Joliet to break ground on the Houbolt Road Extension,” said the Illinois Department of Transportation in a tweet last week. “The P3 efforts leverages a $32 million state contribution for an overall improvement of nearly $200 million, furthering Governor Pritzker’s vision to fix and modernize I-80.”

The bridge’s toll rates have yet to be decided upon; many trucking firms will likely pass costs for the tolls down to their customers, although they may initially want to try and avoid the toll bridge itself.

“I think that every trucking company is going to do their best to avoid the toll, just because that makes economic sense,” said Hart. “At the end of the day, every truck that’s on the highway is there because consumers need something or want something, and the consumers and the marketplace will require that it be delivered at the most cost-effective means possible.”

Because the Houbolt extension project is bringing boosted capacity, ITA, which typically opposes tolls implemented into existing highways, has decided to remain neutral in this circumstance (which it often does in regards to tolls helping to increase capacity). Still, ITA believes that the most effective way to increase infrastructure capabilities is through traditional user fees like a fuel tax. These administrative costs are usually lower than tolling fees, Hart added.

“I think, in the long term, you will see more trucking companies use that bridge and they will build the price off that toll into the cost of goods,” he said.

Construction for the project, which is scheduled to be finished by the year 2023, will help to reconfigure the interchange between Houbolt Road and Interstate 80. The investment into these efforts comes from Governor Jay Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois plan, which has been in place for the last couple of years and aims to help boost investment into bridge, transit, road, state park, education, historic state, and clean water infrastructure projects throughout the state.

“This project is just one of several major upgrades of I-80 in the coming years, thanks to the governor’s vision,” said Omer Osman, Secretary for Illinois Transportation. “The new bridge will link I-80 and the intermodal facilities in Will County, alleviate traffic congestion, make travel safer along a critical national corridor, and further strengthen the state’s economy.”

CenterPoint Intermodal Center is based in Joliet and its neighboring town of Elwood, and houses a large inland port and a main office space. According to Hart, many freight distribution centers and hubs have been making their homes throughout this Chicagoland location.

$207 Infrastructure Plan in the Works for Illinois

June 20, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The Proposed HIghway Improvement Program, a multi-year program consisting of $20.7 billion in transportation construction funding, was recently announced for the state of Illinois by Governor J.B. Pritzker.

The program will allocate $15.84 billion to state transportation system upgrades and $4.87 billion for local system updates, and will cover the years between 2022 and 2027.

“The newest Multi-Year Plan, announced earlier this week, is a project to improve nearly 2,800 miles of road and nearly 8 million square feet of bridges,” said the Illinois Department of Transportation in a tweet.

This plan will work toward returning Illinois to its strong position as an prominent location for the transportation industry across the country.

“We are continuing to build and sustain infrastructure that gives Illinois its competitive edge and strengthens our status as the transportation hub of North America,” said Omer Osman, Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation. “This latest multi-year program means we will keep making historic improvements in our transportation system, just as we have throughout the pandemic.”

The plan seeks to bring major improvements to 2,779 miles of roadways and 7.9 million square feet of bridge deck over the next six years, with $3.3 billion being dedicated specifically to the next fiscal year. As of right now, 8.8% of Illinois’ bridges have been deemed structurally deficient by the American Road and Transportation Builders Association.

In Pritzker’s plan, $5.79 billion will be allocated to roadway construction and preservation efforts, $4.82 billion will be dedicated to bridge improvements, and $2.59 billion will be given to expansion projects. Additionally, $1.43 billion will be allocated to system support efforts regarding land acquisition and engineering projects, and another $1.21 billion will be dedicated specifically to safety improvement projects throughout Illinois. Finally, for local truck route upgrades throughout the state, the plan will allocate $42 million.

2019’s infrastructure improvement initiative, called ‘Rebuild Illinois,’ will be supporting the investment needed for this plan. Rebuild Illinois aims to aid in the funding of improvements for Illinois state parks, historic sites, education, clean water infrastructure, bridges, roads, and transit.

To raise funds for Rebuilding Illinois, fuel tax rates throughout the state doubled in 2019 and rose again during 2020. As of right now, fuel tax rates in Illinois are at 46.2 cents per gallon, and 38.7 cents per gallon for gasoline.

“Illinois needs reliable infrastructure capable of moving people and goods safely across the state,” said Chicago Senator Omar Aquino. “Alleviating congestion, resurfacing roads, and rehabilitating bridges are key activities to keep economic activity and prosperity flowing across Illinois.”

Rebuild Illinois has been able to help fund a variety of infrastructure-boosting efforts–such as local truck route projects and the marine transportation system–since first coming to fruition. Now, the Multi-Year Program, as Pritzker’s plan has been nicknamed, will strive to help rebuild the state economy following the coronavirus pandemic by creating thousands of new jobs.

Additionally, Pritzker has recently announced that Amtrak’s full passenger rail services would return to the state, which had been limited until now due to COVID-19 concerns.

“I’m proud to announce that 100% normal Amtrak service will fully resume in Illinois on July 19th, two months from today,” said Pritzker recently in a tweet. “This will make it even easier for everyone to explore all that our state has to offer, supporting small businesses and small town economies along the way.”

Because nearly 5 million Illinois residents have received COVID-19 vaccines, Amtrak can return to its stations across 20 different Illinois communities and continue providing the much-need connections to St. Louis and Milwaukee, among other destinations.

“As Illinois residents begin to travel throughout the state once again, regularly, for both work and leisure following the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring our infrastructure provides safe, efficient means to do so is a top priority of mine,” said state Senator Melinda Bush.

Bush is also thrilled for the potential this plan will have to bring more employment opportunities to the state and to help strengthen Illinois’ economy after such a difficult time.

“Furthermore, the projects outlined in the plan will provide thousands of jobs for hardworking Illinoisans who have longed for a return to work,” she added.

Illinois budget: Drivers advised to use caution as construction resumes

July 7, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Crews and workers are expected back today

After more than two years, Illinois lawmakers ended the longest state budget impasse in modern history, overriding Governor Bruce Rauner’s veto attempt of budget-related legislation. The money and the votes didn’t come easy, and there will be residual effects.

We’re not talking about the $5 billion tax increase. In the short-term, we’re talking about state roads. As we noted last month, roughly 900 statewide construction and transportation projects worth $3.3 billion had been put on hold while the budget was in limbo. On July 1 the Illinois Department of Transportation warned that the shutdown would impact “highway, rail, transit, and aeronautics projects.” On July 4, as tense negotiations inched forward at a strained pace, the department updated its website to say that construction would stay suspended.

Yesterday, the IDOT updated its site yet again to announce that construction will resume today now that a budget is in place. But it also warned the public to be especially cautious traveling in or around work zones, as projects rev up, traffic slows, and nearly 22,000 workers affected by the stoppage are put back to work.

That means: Keeping an eye out for workers, construction crews and vehicles, and anyone in orange vests. The delay of a state budget forced state-funded crews and contractors to abandon all construction sites, no matter the condition. Highways that were once saturated with people putting in long hours went dark for a week, and it’s likely that motorists grew accustomed to that. Now that workers are back, drivers should expect slower speed zones and more congestion as construction gets back on track.

Also be aware of: Construction zones that are technically active, but have yet to see crews on site. The state budget doesn’t necessarily mean that all contractors are obligated or have sorted through the logistics of scheduling or assignments. Some sites may take priority over others, leaving voids in certain areas. Active construction or not, drivers are required to obey all traffic signs and speeds while traveling through work zones and to stay alert.

Construction areas and interstates to know: As noted by the IDOT in recent weeks for pothole patching utility work, bridge repair work, and other closures: I-55, I-72, I-80, I-57, I-280, which have seen construction at various points of the interstate; check the IDOT’s Twitter for real-time updates.

Illinois budget impasse threatens to halt road construction

June 16, 2017 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

A July 1 deadline looms

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced this week that statewide roadwork might come to a halt at the end of June, a consequence of the Illinois budget crisis, now on the verge of entering its third consecutive year. As a result, the state won’t be able to pay contractors by a July 1 deadline.

Chicagoist reports that the IDOT has informed construction crews that all roadwork must stop by June 30, pending a stopgap measure or a budget resolution. A stopgap measure was used last summer to prevent a similar situation from escalating.

This all comes as Governor Bruce Rauner calls for a special session of the state legislature beginning next week to hammer out a budget, a prospect that seems unlikely given the staunch refusal of both Republicans and Democrats to relinquish ground on several fronts.

Credit rating agencies have indicated that the state’s failure to compromise will lead to yet another downgrade; Power Ball and Mega Millions have threatened to drop Illinois from its roster of participating states. But the issue we’re most concerned about is safety. More people are expected to road trip this summer with gas prices remaining low. On top of that, we’re in the midst of the most deadly and dangerous travel seasons of the year, as newly licensed teenagers, take advantage of the opportunity to hit the road during the hot summer months.

In other words, the delay of construction or any other matter pertaining to the safety of highways and interstates could lead to even higher traffic casualty rates than expected. Few things are more to state government than protecting its citizens. Let’s see if the state can put the partisan politics aside and do just that.