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| Public Act 102-0988 | ||||
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AN ACT concerning transportation.
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Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, | ||||
represented in the General Assembly:
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Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the | ||||
Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure | ||||
Funding and Policy Act. | ||||
Section 5. Findings. The General Assembly finds the | ||||
following: | ||||
(1) Illinois' transportation system is crucial to | ||||
every resident, employee, and business. It serves as the | ||||
backbone of the economy and is a critical component of | ||||
Illinois' economic competitiveness. | ||||
(2) The State must continue to pursue an equitable | ||||
transportation network in which marginalized communities | ||||
have improved access to all modes of transportation, | ||||
thereby enhancing access to jobs, housing, and other | ||||
services. | ||||
(3) Illinois is home to an expansive transportation | ||||
network, currently ranking third in the nation for the | ||||
number of roadway miles and bridges, totaling 127,044 and | ||||
26,848, respectively. The State also has 6,883 miles of | ||||
freight railway, 1,118 inland waterway miles, 58 transit | ||||
systems with over 450 million annual transit trips, and 17 | ||||
major airports. | ||
(4) The historic Rebuild Illinois capital plan adopted | ||
in 2019 will end in June 2025. | ||
(5) The motor fuel tax and vehicle registration fees | ||
remain the most significant form of transportation funding | ||
for Illinois. | ||
(6) Illinois will continue to contend with | ||
transportation funding shortfalls due to increasing | ||
vehicle fuel efficiency and the rising popularity of | ||
electric vehicles. | ||
(7) New and innovative funding and policy options are | ||
needed to adequately maintain Illinois' transportation | ||
systems and support future growth. | ||
(8) The General Assembly should study these issues to | ||
determine funding mechanisms for transportation projects | ||
and operations in Illinois, policy changes to support the | ||
efficient governance and delivery of transportation | ||
projects, and the workforce needed to support the future | ||
transportation system. | ||
Section 10. Commission created. | ||
(a) The Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation | ||
Infrastructure Funding and Policy is created within the | ||
Department of Transportation consisting of members appointed | ||
as follows: | ||
(1) Four members of the House of Representatives, with | ||
2 to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of | ||
Representatives and 2 to be appointed by the Minority | ||
Leader of the House of Representatives. | ||
(2) Four members of the Senate, with 2 to be appointed | ||
by the President of the Senate and 2 to be appointed by the | ||
Minority Leader of the Senate. | ||
(3) Eight members appointed by the Governor with the | ||
advice and consent of the Senate. | ||
(4) The chair of the Commission to be appointed by the | ||
Governor from among his 8 appointments. | ||
(b) Members shall have expertise, knowledge, or experience | ||
in transportation infrastructure development, construction, | ||
workforce, or policy. Members shall also represent a diverse | ||
set of sectors, including the labor, engineering, | ||
construction, transit, active transportation, rail, air, or | ||
other sectors, and shall include participants of the | ||
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. No more than 2 | ||
appointees shall be members of the same sector. | ||
(c) Members shall represent geographically diverse regions | ||
of the State. | ||
(d) Members shall be appointed by May 31, 2022. | ||
Section 15. Meetings. The Commission shall hold its first | ||
meeting within 2 months from the effective date of this Act. | ||
The Commission may conduct meetings at such places and at such | ||
times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to | ||
exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, | ||
and accomplish its objectives and purposes. | ||
Section 20. Duties. The Commission shall evaluate | ||
Illinois' existing transportation infrastructure funding and | ||
policy processes and develop alternative solutions. The | ||
Commission shall: | ||
(1) Evaluate current transportation funding in | ||
Illinois, taking into account the viability of existing | ||
revenue sources and funding distributions. | ||
(2) Consider new and innovative funding options. | ||
(3) Evaluate the existing governance of Illinois' | ||
transportation system, including roles and | ||
responsibilities for the State and county, township, and | ||
municipal governments. | ||
(4) Evaluate current and future workforce needs to | ||
design, construct, and manage the state's transportation | ||
system within the Illinois Department of Transportation | ||
and within the State as a whole. | ||
(5) Evaluate current and future data needs of the | ||
Illinois Department of Transportation. | ||
(6) Consider and recommend steps to expedite project | ||
approval and completion. | ||
(7) Consider future trends that will impact the | ||
transportation system, including safety needs, racial | ||
equity, electric vehicles, and climate change. | ||
(8) Consider ways to improve transportation investment | ||
impacts on goals such as improving racial equity, | ||
addressing climate change, and increasing economic growth. | ||
(9) Consider improvements to the performance-based | ||
programming system. | ||
(10) Consider multimodal system needs, including | ||
public transportation, bicycle facilities, railways, | ||
waterways, and airports. | ||
(11) Consider alternative solutions employed by other | ||
states. | ||
Section 25. Report. The Commission shall direct the | ||
Illinois Department of Transportation to enter into a contract | ||
with a third party to assist the Commission in producing a | ||
document that evaluates the topics under this Act and outline | ||
formal recommendations that can be acted upon by the General | ||
Assembly. The Commission shall report a summary of its | ||
activities and produce a final report of the data, findings, | ||
and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 31, | ||
2023. The final report shall include specific, actionable | ||
recommendations for legislation and organizational | ||
adjustments. The final report may include recommendations for | ||
pilot programs to test alternatives. The final report and | ||
recommendations shall also include any minority and individual | ||
views of task force members. | ||
Section 30. Repeal. This Commission is dissolved, and this | ||
Act is repealed on February 1, 2023.
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Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon | ||
becoming law. | ||