CHICAGO, Ill. – The American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois, in conjunction with the Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association, the Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association, the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers and the Associated General Contractors of Illinois released the following statement in response to Governor JB Pritzker’s budget proposal to divert road funds to pay for public transit operating costs:
“In 2019, a bi-partisan group of Illinois Lawmakers approved Governor Pritzker’s ReBuild Illinois plan. The ambitious and historic $45 billion investment made a promise to Illinois citizens to rebuild and modernize our state’s infrastructure and transportation network.
“But now, that promise and plan are in jeopardy. The Governor’s recently released budget proposal calls for a diversion of $175 million committed to fund bridge repair, road improvement and other critical need projects in order to pay for spending on public transportation operations in the Chicago region. These public transportation costs have been historically paid for by the state’s General Revenue Fund since they are not associated with capital improvements, repairs or upgrades.
“According to the Transportation for Illinois Coalition, the $175 million loss in road funding would multiply to more than a $1 billion impact in lost road and bridge improvements over the next few years. Such a fiscal impact would limit plans by IDOT and other agencies, delay projects and slow the modernization of our transportation network.
“Our groups fully support a comprehensive program to sustain and fund our public transit systems, as we also encourage transit agencies to engage in a serious re-examination of how their operations should be streamlined in light of the significant changes to ridership following the pandemic. In any event, these operating costs cannot come at the expense of the existing ReBuild Illinois program designed to maintain a safe, modern and reliable transportation network of roads, bridges, airports and rail.
“We urge the Governor and Legislative Leaders to keep their promise to ReBuild Illinois and stop the diversion of Road Funds.”
Kevin Artl
President and CEO, American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois
Michael Sturino
President and CEO, Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association
Kevin Burke
Executive Director, Illinois Asphalt Pavement Association
Dan Eichholz,
Executive Director, Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers
Bill Frey
Executive Director, Associated General Contractors of Illinois