Dupage Policy Journal

Representative Seth Lewis called out the Illinois Department of Transportation’s performance regarding spending its budget.

“As those dollars are sitting there idly, we are not putting people to work,” Lewis said. “We are not improving our economy. We are not investing in our communities.”

Central Illinois Proud reported the House Transportation Regulations, Roads & Bridges Committee heard testimony from IDOT officials regarding financials for the Rebuild Illinois program, which was implemented in 2019.

“Those annual plans look to spend down the $33 billion in the next two and a half years?” Lewis said. “I do understand that and appreciate that but I don't know if the department is understanding and appreciating the fact that you are failing and falling behind schedule without providing any insight as to how you're going to catch up.

Central Illinois Proud reported that since the beginning of Rebuild Illinois, more than $7 billion had been allocated for roads and bridges.

IDOT’s Fiscal Year 2021-2026 Proposed Highway Improvement Program has $3.15 billion in funding for repairs toward 3,356 miles of state-maintained roads and improvements toward statewide railroad crossing safety. The report noted that funding for this effort does come from gas taxes and motor vehicle registration fees.

“The department due to lack of capacity and trying to get out of this is preventing what I would call a win-win-win situation, where money is there available, contractors want to use those funds to improve the infrastructure of the communities, and constituents get the benefit of those infrastructure improvements,” Lewis said.

Central Illinois Proud reported the committee discussed House Bills 5262, 253 and 4389 during the committee hearing.

“All because IDOT is not willing to think outside the box or do what it needs to do to increase its capacity and get these projects released,” Lewis said. “Words are nice but I'd actually like to see action. I know our constituents like to see action.”