Bill Text: IL SB3951 | 2021-2022 | 102nd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure and Policy. Provides for the membership of the Commission. Provides for the appointment of a chairperson of the Commission by the Governor. Provides that the members shall be appointed by May 31, 2022. Provides for the meetings and duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall report a summary of its activities and produce a final report of its data, findings, and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 31, 2023. Provides that the Act shall be repealed on February 1, 2023. Effective immediately.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-21 - Referred to Assignments [SB3951 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2021-SB3951-Introduced.html

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102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2021 and 2022 SB3951 Introduced 1/21/2022, by Sen. Ram Villivalam SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
New Act
Creates the Blue-Ribbon Commission on Transportation Infrastructure and Policy. Provides for the membership of the Commission. Provides for the appointment of a chairperson of the Commission by the Governor. Provides that the members shall be appointed by May 31, 2022. Provides for the meetings and duties of the Commission. Provides that the Commission shall report a summary of its activities and produce a final report of its data, findings, and recommendations to the General Assembly by January 31, 2023. Provides that the Act shall be repealed on February 1, 2023. Effective immediately.
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A BILL FOR
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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

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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

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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

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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,
including, but not limited to, a vehicle miles traveled
fee, tolling, congestion pricing, and local government
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.

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(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

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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.
Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
becoming law.