Public Act 102-0988

SB1233 Enrolled LRB102 05038 HEP 15057 b

AN ACT concerning transportation.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

represented in the General Assembly:

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.