Illinois transportation secretary unveils 'Transforming Transportation for Tomorrow'

[May 05, 2012]  SPRINGFIELD -- This week, Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider unveiled "Transforming Transportation for Tomorrow," the state's first multi-modal transportation improvement program. The new program document combines the Illinois Department of Transportation's newly proposed multiyear highway program for fiscal 2013-2018 with the proposed multiyear programs for public transportation (fiscal 2013-2017), rail (fiscal 2013-2017) and aeronautics (fiscal 2013-2015), and is being introduced in a new, streamlined format to reinforce the multi-modal nature of transportation in Illinois.

"We are excited to begin this more multi-modal approach toward planning and programming transportation projects and funding, further promoting our goal to develop an even more integrated, effective and efficient transportation system for many years to come," Schneider said. "We recognize that building a healthy, vibrant transportation network to develop and function properly through the 21st century means addressing the needs of our world-class highways, airports, railroads and public transportation systems as one interconnected system."

The multi-modal approach goes beyond previous individual modal planning and programming efforts by identifying and improving physical connections and logistical links among the various modes of transportation. The ultimate goal is to more effectively incorporate federal, regional and local transportation plans with the state's plan in order to create a collective vision that meets Illinois' transportation needs through 2050 or longer.

The fiscal 2013-2018 highway program is a six-year plan at an anticipated level of $9.2 billion, including $1.8 billion for the fiscal 2013 annual program alone. The plan includes $6.5 billion in federal and $2.2 billion in state funding. The costs include the final $1.2 billion targeted from the state's Illinois Jobs Now capital plan and $454 million in local funds.

Driven by Gov. Pat Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now capital program, the multiyear highway program is intended to create or sustain nearly 120,000 jobs through fiscal 2018 and spark economic development throughout the state, while improving safety and reducing congestion. Part of the highway program includes maintenance of 2,302 miles of road and replacement or rehabilitation of 508 bridges.

In addition, state highways are to see $6.6 billion in improvements over the life of the program, with $2.6 billion targeting the local highway system. In the state portion of the multiyear program, $3 billion will be for reconstruction, resurfacing, widening and other safety projects; $1.5 billion for bridge needs; $1.4 billion for congestion mitigation; and $756 million for new roads and increased access for economic development.

Enacted in 2009 to include a $14 billion, six-year transportation improvement plan, the Illinois Jobs Now program already has invested more than $9.5 billion in the state's highways system alone from 2009 through 2011, improving more than 6,000 miles of roadways and more than 840 bridges, while creating or preserving more than 125,000 jobs.

To ensure the continuation of the state's capital plan and projects like these, which are putting hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents back to work, the governor has proposed changes needed to stabilize and restructure the state's pension and Medicaid programs after decades of fiscal mismanagement. The proposals outline up to $85 billion in savings from changes to the pension system, based on current actuarial assumptions, and $2.7 billion in savings from restructuring Medicaid. These changes are to lead to greater certainty in Illinois' business climate and help respond to serious concerns from the ratings agencies. The billions of dollars to be saved through these reforms are key to the state's ability to ensure that critical capital improvement and road safety projects in Illinois are able to move forward.

Information on the entire "Transforming Transportation for Tomorrow" program, including a list of all highway projects programmed for fiscal 2013-18, is available online at www.dot.il.gov/hip1318/hwyimprov.htm.

[Text from Illinois Department of Transportation file received from the Illinois Office of Communication and Information]