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The multiyear improvement program complements the governor's
recently announced capital program for roads, which will make $2.325
billion available to expand Illinois' transportation infrastructure.
The capital program, Jobs for Illinois, will promote additional job
creation and make critical investments to meet state and local
community transportation needs.
"Our multiyear plan does what it's supposed to do: maintain roads
and bridges," Blagojevich said. "But we cannot rely on that alone.
Last spring, Congress passed a federal transportation bill that
provides several billion dollars in new funds for Illinois. We
cannot allow that money to go to other states. That's why it's time
we put partisan politics aside and pass our jobs bill. Our plan
means receiving every dollar Illinois is due."
"We can't rely solely on the MYP if we want our transportation
system to expand and meet the needs for economic development
throughout the 21st century," Martin said. "The MYP, coupled with
Jobs for Illinois, will allow us to meet safety and maintenance
needs, while at the same time moving forward with expansion projects
we need for economic development and job creation."
The fiscal 2007-2012 plan is based upon conservative estimates of
federal, state and local funding, including $7.085 billion in
federal funds, $2.695 billion in state funds and $645 million in
local funds. The federal portion of the plan is based upon
anticipated levels established in the new federal transportation
legislation, called Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient
Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. The new federal
legislation, signed into law last summer, increases Illinois' share
of highway funds by more than $300 million on an average annual
basis. In addition to federal formula funds, the legislation
includes $1.25 billion in nearly 300 specific earmarks for projects
within Illinois, and the Department of Transportation will use the
Jobs for Illinois program to capture those earmarked funds.
"Governor Blagojevich and our congressional delegation -- led by
Speaker Hastert, Congressman Costello, Senators Durbin and Obama --
put partisanship aside and did an incredible job making sure
Illinois did better under this latest highway bill," Martin said.
"By doing so well, they presented us with a challenge in coming up
with our match, especially with our earmarked projects. That's why
our capital bill is so important: so that we can put together the
package to not only meet our formula match, but also get the funding
to receive those earmarked funds."
The 2007-2012 plan includes $7.381 billion for making
improvements to the state highway system and $3.044 billion for
improvements to the local system. Other highlights include:
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Improvements to
4,280 miles of highways.
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Improvements to
884 bridges.
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Targeting key
projects in northeastern Illinois to address congestion, such as
funding additional lanes on Interstate 55 from I-80 to Weber
Road, reconstruction of the I-90-94 Dan Ryan Expressway from
31st street to I-57 and the I-80 Kingery Expressway from I-94 to
the Indiana state line.
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Providing for
reinvestment for interstate highways in downstate Illinois, such
as I-80 from the Henry County line to west of Illinois 251 in
Bureau County.
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Providing $315
million for local benefits programs to help cities, counties and
townships improve roads and support economic development.
The 2007-2012 plan is estimated to be $10.425 billion. Due to the
uncertainty of gasoline revenues as well as increased transportation
project costs worldwide, the plan focuses on maintaining the
existing system. While the increased cost of gasoline has led to
higher sales tax revenues, motor fuel tax projections have been
reduced. Nationally, consumer reaction to recent increases in
gasoline prices has led to lowered motor fuel tax expectations and
future vehicle registration receipts; because of this the Department
of Transportation has also revised its revenue estimates for state
motor fuel tax and vehicle registration receipts. The transportation
industry is also facing considerable increases in project costs
because of nationwide -- and in some cases worldwide -- material
shortages, including steel, cement and asphalt. Dramatic project
increases coupled with uncertain future revenue estimates limit the
department's ability to add many new projects to the road program.
The department's main priorities are as follows:
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System
maintenance: $3.440 billion scheduled for reconstruction,
resurfacing and widening, and safety projects on
state-maintained highways.
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Bridge
maintenance: $1.463 billion scheduled to address bridge needs.
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Congestion
mitigation: $1.676 billion scheduled to address traffic
congestion.
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System expansion:
$802 million scheduled to build new roads to increase
opportunity for economic development.
The entire 2007-2012 plan is available online at
www.dot.il.gov.
Major project highlights
The following major projects are tentatively scheduled during
fiscal 2007-2012:
Downstate Illinois
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Interstate 55-70,
Poplar Street complex in East St. Louis. Bridge repair and
bridge deck overlay on the Tudor-Piggot ramps and on the I-70
collector-distributor are programmed during fiscal 2007-2012 at
a cost of $27.7 million. Of this total, $8.5 million is
programmed in fiscal 2007.
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I-55-64-70
interchange, the Tri-Level, in East St. Louis. Reconstruction of
this interchange at the three routes is necessary to improve
traffic operational conditions and provide access to the local
street system. Construction and associated work are programmed
during fiscal 2007-2012 at a cost of $9.9 million. Of this
total, engineering for contract plans is programmed in fiscal
2007 at a cost of $1 million. An additional $172.4 million of
work on the Tri-Level and the I-64 connector is contingent on
securing additional special federal funds.
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I-57 from north of
Illinois 13 in Marion to the Jefferson County line. Rubblization
and overlay on 26.6 miles are programmed during fiscal 2008-2012
at a cost of $55.6 million. In addition, bridge work near West
Frankfort and south of West City is programmed during fiscal
2008-2012 at a cost of $6.9 million.
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U.S. 20 from
Galena to Freeport. The final environmental impact statement and
design report for this project have been approved by the Federal
Highway Administration, and the record of decision was signed
Sept. 22, 2005. Phase II engineering for contract plans and land
acquisition for the Galena Bypass are under way.
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U.S. 20 Galena
Bypass from Illinois 84 northwest of Galena to the Horseshoe
Mound interchange southeast of Galena. The proposed bond program
provides $13.2 million for utility adjustments, land
acquisition, archaeological survey and engineering for contract
plans. The federal transportation act provided $7.44 million in
High Priority Projects Program funds for this work. (Northwest
Region in Opportunity Returns program)
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U.S. 20 Freeport
Bypass from U.S. 20 Business west of Freeport to west of
Illinois 26. The proposed bond program provides $20.5 million
for additional lanes for four miles, a new bridge, land
acquisition, utility adjustments and engineering for contract
plans. The federal transportation act provided $760,000 in
priority projects funds for this work. (Northern Stateline
Region)
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U.S. 51, Decatur
to Pana. Since 1990, the Department of Transportation has
invested $43.9 million on upgrading U.S. 51 to four lanes south
of Decatur, including the completed construction for 9.2 miles
from north of Elwin to north of the Macon-Shelby County line.
New construction for 3.5 miles from 0.9 mile south of the Shelby
County line south of Moweaqua to 0.1 mile north of Township Road
306 is under way. The remaining work to complete the 8.6-mile
section from 0.1 mile north of Township Road 306 to 2.9 miles
north of Illinois 16 north of Pana is not currently funded.
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U.S. 51 Assumption
Bypass from 1.5 miles north of Assumption to 1.1 miles south.
The proposed bond program provides $21.1 million for new roadway
construction of four miles of a four-lane expressway, land
acquisition and utility adjustments. The federal transportation
act provided $14.1 million in priority projects funds and $2.75
million in Transportation Improvements program funds for this
work. (Central Region)
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U.S. 51 from south
of Pana to Centralia. Engineering for design, location and
environmental studies and engineering for contract plans are
programmed during fiscal 2007-2012 at a cost of $8.9 million. Of
this total, engineering for design, location and environmental
studies is programmed in fiscal 2007 at a cost of $1.5 million.
The federal transportation act provided $2.4 million in priority
projects funds and $4.8 million in improvements funds for this
work.
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U.S. 67 corridor.
The U.S. 67 corridor extends nearly 229 miles from Rock Island
south to Alton. The two- and four-lane corridor improvement
costs awarded to date total more than $708 million, and $121.9
million in projects are programmed during fiscal 2007-2012. Of
this total, $2.95 million is programmed in fiscal 2007. The
estimated unfunded cost to complete the four-lane sections in
the U.S. 67 corridor from Macomb southward to the Alton Bypass
exceeds $1.6 billion.
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The U.S. 67, U.S.
136, Illinois 336 Macomb Bypass from U.S. 136 and Jackson Street
in Macomb to U.S. 136 northeast of Macomb. The proposed bond
program provides $30.5 million for a new interchange, a new
bridge, land acquisition and engineering for contract plans.
(West Central Region)
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Illinois 3
relocation from Cahokia to Venice. Archaeological survey work is
programmed during fiscal 2007-2012 at a cost of $6 million. Of
this total, $1.5 million is programmed in fiscal 2007 for this
work. There is an additional $80.8 million for new construction,
new bridges, land acquisition and utility adjustments,
contingent on securing additional special federal funds.
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The U.S. 136,
Illinois 336 Quincy-to-Macomb corridor. A new four-lane highway
for 21.3 miles from U.S. 24 near Quincy to three miles south of
Carthage and 1.2 miles from County Highway 18 to Deere Road west
of Macomb is open to traffic. The construction to provide five
miles of four lanes and an interchange from three miles south of
Carthage to two miles east of Carthage and the construction to
provide 1.1 miles of five lanes from U.S. 136 east of Township
Road 266 to County Highway 18 are under way. Grading and
drainage work for a 0.72-mile section is under way from 0.5 mile
south of U.S. 136 to one mile south of U.S. 136 near the west
edge of Macomb. The work to finish the remaining 20.3 miles of
four-lane highway, from two miles east of Carthage to U.S. 136
east of Township Road 266, is fully funded. Land acquisition and
construction from two miles east of Carthage to U.S. 136 east of
Township Road 226 west of Macomb are programmed during fiscal
2007 at a cost of $119.1 million.
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Illinois 336
Macomb-to-Peoria corridor. Engineering for location, design and
environmental studies began in fall 2002. The continuation of
engineering for location, design and environmental studies and
engineering for contract plans are programmed during fiscal
2008-2012 at a cost of $11.5 million. The federal transportation
act provided $5.2 million in priority projects funds and $2
million in improvements funds for this work.
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Illinois 40,
Knoxville Avenue from north of Cedar Hills Drive to north of
Illinois 6 in Peoria. Construction of additional lanes,
intersection improvement, resurfacing on 2.6 miles and
associated work are programmed during fiscal 2007 2012 at a cost
of $21.5 million. Of this total, construction of additional
lanes, intersection improvement, resurfacing on 0.9 mile and
land acquisition are programmed in fiscal 2007 at a cost of $6.1
million.
Northeastern Illinois
I-55 from I-80 to Weber Road in Will County. Engineering for
contract plans, additional lanes and widening and resurfacing for
14.5 miles, bridge repair and widening, noise barriers, shoulder
repair, and construction engineering are programmed during fiscal
2007-2012 at a cost of $111.4 million. Of this total, $90.8 million
is programmed in fiscal 2007 for engineering for contract plans,
construction and construction engineering. The federal
transportation act provided $2.8 million in priority projects funds
for this project. However, the expansion of I-55 cannot be complete
without additional funding that would come from the governor's jobs
bill.
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I-55 at Arsenal Road in Will County. Interchange reconstruction,
bridge replacement, land acquisition, lighting, engineering for
contract plans and construction engineering are programmed during
fiscal 2008-2012 at a cost of $33.3 million. This work is being done
in conjunction with the development of the Joliet Arsenal facility
which, when completed, will be the largest intermodal facility in
the nation.
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I-80 Kingery Expressway from the I-94 Bishop Ford Expressway to
the Indiana state line in Cook County. The four-year Kingery
reconstruction project is approaching its final stage as
construction on the mainline begins this spring along with the
construction of a new tri-level structure connecting I-80 to
southbound Illinois 394. There is $11.3 million programmed in fiscal
2007 for construction engineering and landscaping. The project is
anticipated to be completed by spring 2007.
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The I-94-90 Dan Ryan Expressway from 31st Street to south of the
I-57 interchange in Cook County. Reconstruction of 8.5 miles of the
existing local and express lanes, bridge repairs and replacement,
additional ramps, landscaping, and construction engineering are
programmed during fiscal 2007-2012 at a cost of $359.4 million. Of
this total, $317.8 million is programmed in fiscal 2007 for
additional ramps, bridge repairs, reconstruction and construction
engineering.
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U.S. 6 and 159th Street from I-294 to Illinois 1 and Halsted
Street. Reconstruction on 2.3 miles, bridge replacement, railroad
relocation, intersection improvement, engineering for contract
plans, construction engineering, utility adjustment and lighting are
programmed during fiscal 2007-2012 at an estimated cost of $55.3
million. Of this total, $6.3 million is included in fiscal 2007 for
bridge replacement, railroad relocation, engineering for contract
plans, construction engineering and utility adjustment. The
Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century provided $1.3 million
in priority project funds for this project.
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U.S. 14 and Virginia Street from West Lake Shore Drive to Crystal
Lake Avenue and at the Ridgefield Road south junction. Additional
lanes for 4.9 miles, land acquisition, engineering for contract
plans and construction engineering are programmed during fiscal
2008-2012 at an estimated cost of $45 million.
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Illinois 22 and Lake Zurich Road from Quentin Road to west of
Illinois 83 and Mundelein Road. Additional lanes for 3.5 miles, land
acquisition, engineering for right of way, engineering for contract
plans and construction engineering are programmed during fiscal
2008-2012 at an estimated cost of $37.8 million.
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Illinois 22 and Half Day Road from east of the I-94 Tri-State
Tollway to west of U.S. 41 and Skokie Highway. Additional lanes for
nearly three miles, land acquisition and construction engineering
are programmed during fiscal 2008-2012 at an estimated cost of $21.3
million.
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Illinois 56 and Butterfield Road from Illinois 59 and Joliet Road
to Naperville Road. Additional lanes for 5.3 miles, bridge widening,
bridge repair, land acquisition and construction engineering are
programmed during fiscal 2008-2012 at an estimated cost of $73.4
million.
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Illinois 59, U.S. 30, Division Street and Brook Forest Avenue
from Illinois 126 and Lockport Road to U.S. 52 and Jefferson Street.
Additional lanes for 6.3 miles, bridge replacement, retaining wall,
construction engineering, land acquisition and landscaping are
programmed during fiscal 2007-2012 at an estimated cost of $86.3
million. Of this total, $2 million is included in fiscal 2007 for
land acquisition.
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Illinois 64 and North Avenue from Kautz Road to Illinois 59 and
Ingalton Road. Additional lanes for nearly three miles, bridge
replacement, retaining wall, land acquisition, construction
engineering and lighting are programmed during fiscal 2008-2012 at
an estimated cost of $41 million.
[News release from the governor's
office] |
