Will County Gazette

Rep. Jed Davis (R-Yorkville) recently shared information on the six-year plan unveiled by Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to improve infrastructure.

“The Illinois Department of Transportation unveiled a plan on Friday for spending nearly $41 billion in federal, state and local funds over the next six years to repair and upgrade roads, bridges, airports, rail lines and other infrastructure throughout the state,” Davis wrote on Facebook.

Construction Equipment Guide created a graphic outlining how the $41 billion is to be spent. Illinois’ highways will get approximately $27.03 billion, transit will get approximately $9.85 billion, rail will get approximately $2.67 billion, airports will get approximately $1.25 billion, and the waterways will get approximately $190 million.

“Over the next six years, we're investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state,” Gov. J.B. Pritzker said at a news conference in Springfield, The Telegraph reported. “And that means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service. It even extends to improved river ports, new sewers and water infrastructure and a huge upgrade to bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.”

In his Facebook post, Davis shared a link to a Capitol News Illinois article on the plan. According to the news outlet, it is the largest program of its kind in the history of Illinois. The outlet reports: “More than half of the plan, $27 billion, will go toward road and bridge projects, including $4.6 billion in the current fiscal year. That will fund repair and reconstruction of 2,866 miles of roadway and 9.8 million square feet of bridge deck on the state highway system, along with another 738 miles of roadway and 1.1 million square feet of bridge deck in systems maintained by local governments.”

WPSD reported IDOT is studying the future Illinois 154 bridge to see where it can widen the road and add a 1.6 mile multi-use lane.

A PDF of the FY 2024-29 multi-modal multi-year program breaks down the spending further. It notes that the funding will go to “Almost 60 transit providers, nearly 80 public airports, 7 major railroads, and 19 public ports.” It breaks down to $9.85 billion for 44 transit projects; $2.67 billion for 27 rail projects; $1.25 billion for 334 air projects; and $185.8 million for 30 port projects.

Pritzker announced the program in a July 7 news release. 

“Over the next six years, we're investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state," Pritzker said. "That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service. 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.”

Davis, 43, is board president at Parkview Christian Academy in Yorkville. He's regional manager with National Oilwell Varco and has been a Newark village trustee since 2013. He graduated from Valparaiso University in 2000.