STATE

The Jump Start and Illinois Jobs Now capital programs that were passed in 2009 have begun to address the failing transportation infrastructure in Illinois that resulted from 10 years with no capital plan. However, these programs are set to expire in 2014 and they have not fully addressed the problem.

• Even with the Jump-Start and Illinois Jobs Now bonds, the FY 2010-15 average annual highway program, adjusted for inflation is less than even the pre-Illinois First program level.
• Because the new capital program is funded exclusively through bonds, it will drop precipitously in FY 2015 when the bonds are gone. (By FY 2015, state funding for the highway program will be so limited that the state will no longer be able to match regular federal formula funds, much less any new earmarks which the upcoming federal authorization legislation may provide.)
• Local roads received a $500 million boost over a five-year period, but all of these funds are bond funds and will disappear by FY 2015.
• Transit funds are likewise from bond proceeds and their funding will disappear by FY 2015.
• The deposit of the highway user fee increases that represent part of the funding for the new capital program into the Capital Projects Fund represents the biggest diversion of highway user fees since the inception of the user fee concept.

FEDERAL

Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) is the new federal highway authorization bill passed in June of 2012. TFIC is pleased that the period of short, temporary extensions of the previous authorization is over. The longer-term authorization in MAP-21 will allow businesses and state's to plan for much needed transportation infrastructure improvements.

MAP-21 is set to expire in 2014, the same year that the Illinois capital plans expire, setting Illinois up for a disastrous decline in available funding to invest in infrastructure.