Kendall County Times

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says his Rebuild Illinois plan is set to invest more than $41 billion in federal, state and local funds in the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) over the next 72 months, with goals of improving roads, bridges, airports, rail lines and other infrastructure across the state.

"Over the next six years, we're investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state," Pritzker said July 7 at a news conference in Springfield. "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."

Rebuild Illinois is the largest multi-year plan in state history, with an investment of $33.2 billion for transportation, most of which will come from from annual increases to the state's motor fuel tax and increases to driving-related licensing fees that took effect in 2020, WLS reported.

A reported $27 billion of the plan will go toward road and bridge projects, including $4.6 billion during the current fiscal year to cover the cost of repair and reconstruction of 2,866 miles of roadway. That amount also covers 9.8 million square feet of bridge surfacing on the state highway system and another 738 miles of roadway and 1.1 million square feet of bridge deck in systems maintained by local governments, the story added.

Pritzker and other state leaders said Rebuild Illinois is designed to do more than just improve safety and efficiency in transportation, adding that the program has already generated thousands of high-paying jobs in construction, engineering and other fields.

So far, IDOT has completed $12.1 billion of improvements statewide through Rebuild Illinois, including 5,339 miles of highway, 533 bridges, and 762 other safety improvements, according to WLS.