Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SJR0041

SJ0041 LRB104 12701 MST 23581 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is a major transportation hub, serving as a critical link for commerce, tourism, and travel within the Midwest and across the nation, with millions of vehicles traveling through the State's highways and secondary roads each year; and

WHEREAS, Increased traffic congestion on Illinois interstates and secondary roads has impacted the safety, efficiency, and economic growth of our communities, leading to longer travel times, higher transportation costs, and decreased quality of life for residents; and

WHEREAS, Other states, including Missouri, Maryland, Washington, and Connecticut, have undertaken significant roadway expansion projects to address traffic congestion and improve safety, demonstrating the potential benefits of such infrastructure investments; and

WHEREAS, To keep Illinois at the forefront of travel, safety, and commerce, it is essential to assess the feasibility of expanding roadway infrastructure to meet growing demands; and

WHEREAS, Expanding the capacity of transportation infrastructure to reduce traffic delays, improve safety, and enhance the movement of goods and services has the potential to include such benefits as increased commercial activity, better access to markets, and enhanced regional competitiveness; and

WHEREAS, Many commercial corridors rely on secondary roads that are often not equipped to handle the volume of commercial traffic, leading to inefficiencies, safety concerns, and potential bottlenecks that can affect local businesses and logistics operations; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Illinois Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility and potential impacts of expanding all interstates in Illinois to a minimum of six lanes and all secondary roads on commercial corridors to a minimum of four lanes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study should assess current traffic patterns, infrastructure capacity, potential economic benefits, safety improvements, and cost estimates associated with such expansions; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Transportation is urged to complete this study and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by no later than January 1, 2026; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Governor of the State of Illinois.