Effective July 1, 2012, the State Highway program decreased from $2.905 billion to $1.759 billion, a 40 percent hit. For that reason, all IAAP members will welcome the news that Governor Pat Quinn and the legislative leaders support passage of a supplemental appropriation bill increasing the FY 13 Highway program in amount of $675 million dollars.
According to information supplied by the Governor’s Office, $400 million in additional funds can be added to the FY 13 Highway Program. Part of this increase is additional federal money Illinois will receive under MAP 21 due to efforts of the Illinois Congressional delegation and relentless lobbying by a broad spectrum of Transportation for Illinois Coalition (TFIC) organizations.
In addition, TFIC research and lobbying efforts allowed IDOT to recapture almost $110 million in Road Funds diverted to pay employee group insurance and workers’ compensation charges for other State agencies.
These factors permit IDOT to accelerate projects from the FY 14-18 annual program into FY 13 program, an additional $275 million enhancement.
