HJ0023 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0023 LRB103 31252 ECR 58279 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Interstate 55 (I-55) experiences serious congestion daily for extended periods of time and is unable to acclimate to current traffic demands due to limited roadway capacity, roadway design constraints, high truck volumes, and numerous interchanges; and

WHEREAS, Commuters have limited public transit options for their commutes, which has consequently led to increased congestion, long and unreliable travel times, reductions in safety, and increased costs for delivery of goods and services; and

WHEREAS, To improve automobile transportation along the I-55 corridor from the I-355 (Veterans Memorial Tollway) to the I-90/I-94 (Dan Ryan Expressway), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) initiated the "I-55 Managed Lane Project" to study the advantages of adding managed lanes; and

WHEREAS, A managed lane is a type of highway lane that is administered via a management scheme, such as lane use restrictions or variable tolling, to improve traffic flow, provide commuters with travel options, increase average vehicle occupancy, and support transit ridership; and

WHEREAS, The project assessed implementing two Express Toll Lanes (ETLs) in each direction on the eastern section of the corridor, between I-294 (Central Tri-State Tollway) and the I-90/94; additionally, the section from I-355 to I-294 will have one ETL in each direction; and

WHEREAS, IDOT led this project in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); furthermore, to reach a broad range of stakeholders, the partnership sought input from area residents, municipalities, counties, townships, agencies, elected officials, and interested groups; and

WHEREAS, An environmental study has been completed to meet the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements; the NEPA requires federal agencies to analyze the environmental impacts of the proposed actions and requires the evaluation of reasonable alternatives; and

WHEREAS, Phase II, the "Final Design and Contract Plan Preparation," is funded in IDOT's Fiscal Year 2020-2025 Proposed Highway Improvement Program; however, IDOT does not presently have funding for Phase III which is the construction of the project; and

WHEREAS, IDOT is evaluating alternative project delivery opportunities, such as a public-private partnership or P3, to involve industry and best leverage resources for this project; using the P3 method, IDOT can deliver an I-55 project that is the safest, most efficient, and most cost-effective; and

WHEREAS, Under the Public Private Partnership for Transportation Act, IDOT must receive approval from the General Assembly to pursue the project as a P3 and see the project through to completion; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we support the "I-55 Managed Lane Project" and IDOT's efforts to pursue the project as a P3.