Illinois transportation secretary unveils 'Transforming
Transportation for Tomorrow'
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[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.
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"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.
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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] |