Public Act 102-0988
 
SB1233 EnrolledLRB102 05038 HEP 15057 b

    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
    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
    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
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.
        (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.
        (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
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.

Effective Date: 5/27/2022