Governor JB Pritzker announces the largest multi-year program to fix and repair infrastructure in state history.
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Governor JB Pritzker joined state and local officials at the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) headquarters to announce the largest multi-year program to fix and repair infrastructure in state history: $40.99 billion over six years, showcasing the reach and impact of the governor's historic, bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program.
The new multi-year program is the first time in more than a decade that IDOT is releasing a comprehensive approach to invest in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
"Over the next six years, we're investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state. That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service," said Governor JB Pritzker.
"Rebuild Illinois has increased safety, efficiency, and opportunities for residents all over the state — and over the next few years, we will keep building on that progress, with all 102 counties of Illinois included in the multi-year program."
The Fiscal Year 2024-29 Proposed Highway and Multimodal Improvement Program aims to invest $27.03 billion in roads and bridges, with $4.6 billion identified for the current fiscal year.
A total of $13.96 billion is programmed for other modes, which includes $9.85 billion for transit, $2.67 billion for freight and passenger rail, $1.25 billion for aviation and $190 million for ports and waterways.
Projects are spread out across state and local transportation systems, touching each of the 102 counties in Illinois.
On the highways side, the program aims to improve 3,006 miles of roads and just over 9.8 million square feet of bridge deck on the state system, with anticipated funding maintaining 738 miles of roads and 1.1 million square feet of bridge deck for infrastructure overseen by local governments.
Overall, the new program will increase the investment in Illinois roads and bridges by $2.43 billion over six years, due in part to engineering and planning efforts in the early years of Rebuild Illinois starting to result in more construction activity.
IDOT last year received authority to use alternative project delivery on certain projects in the program. A total of 16 potential projects anticipated to cost $474.5 million have been identified for nontraditional delivery methods.
Passed in 2019, Rebuild Illinois is investing a total $33.2 billion into the state's aging transportation system over six years, creating jobs and promoting economic growth.
Rebuild Illinois is not only the largest capital program in state history, but also the first one that touches all modes of Illinois transportation: roads and bridges, transit, waterways, freight and passenger rail, aviation, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
Entering Year Five of Rebuild Illinois, IDOT has made approximately $12.1 billion of improvements statewide on 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges, and 762 additional safety improvements through Fiscal Year 2023. ■