The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and Governor Jay Robert "J. B." Pritzker unveiled a $34.6 billion six-year spending plan for road, bridge, transit, rail, airport, and port maintenance.

It's the latest multi-year plan backed by the state's 2019 Rebuild Illinois bipartisan infrastructure law, which increased the state's motor fuel tax from 19 cents per gallon to 38 cents per gallon and set it to rise in lockstep with inflation. This legislation also increased driving-related fees, redirected a portion of the state's motor fuel sales tax to the road fund, and authorized borrowing to fund construction projects.

According to Governor J.B. Pritzker, the proposal will allocate $20 billion to transportation, including 2,500 miles of roads and nearly 10 million square feet of the bridge deck.

The state will invest an additional $10 billion in its rail and transit systems, airports, and ports.

The majority of IDOT's funding for this initiative comes from the state's $45 billion Rebuild Illinois Capital Plan, while the federal government is expected to provide an additional $16 billion.

Pritzker stated that reconstructing Bessie Coleman Drive to Interstate 90 in Chicago will improve safety and access to O'Hare International Airport.

IDOT has made over $8.6 billion in improvements to the state's 4,422 miles of highway, 412 bridges, and 621 additional safety enhancements as Rebuild Illinois enters its fourth year.

Separate from IDOT's six-year plan, Pritzker also unveiled an extra program that will combine federal, state, and local monies for various forms of transportation. This consists of $6.5 billion for public transportation, $2.5 billion for passenger and freight rail, $817 million for aviation, and $150 million for ports.

"Since I signed our historic, bipartisan infrastructure program into law, Rebuild Illinois has undertaken a massive transformation of our state's transportation systems," Pritzker said, calling the multi-year program "an investment in our future."

"The renovation of nearly 4,500 miles of highway and over 400 bridges has already been completed, and virtually every Illinois resident can see and feel the results in real-time," Pritzker said

 Among the particulars:

• $6.36 billion for the rehabilitation and maintenance of highways.

• $6.4 billion for bridge renovations.

• $2.48 billion for system support, including engineering and land procurement.

• $1.55 billion for safety and modernization of systems. 

State Sen. Ram Villivalam (D-Chicago), chairman of the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee, stated, "With this investment, Illinois is working toward its commitment to delivering equitable, data-driven solutions to our transportation and infrastructure needs." Illinois will enhance its infrastructure with federal financing to ensure safety, accessibility, and economic and environmental responsibility.