TRIP REPORT

The Illinois Chamber partnered with non-profit research group TRIP to release a report detailing the expense of poor infrastructure to drivers. The report focused on the cost to drivers, but transit, waterways, and air users also suffer increased costs from damage and delays caused by poor infrastructure. TRIP found Illinois drivers pay over $1,000 in extra costs due to poor infrastructure and broke the costs down by region. Media outlets around the state picked up the story and we also sent the report to legislators with a letter that highlighted the emergency bridge closures in the Chicago and St. Louis areas as examples of increasing costs to drivers.

The full report is available online and the press release is here. Some of the news coverage is included below.

Media Coverage:

NBC Chicago

ABC 7 Chicago

State Journal Register

Will County Radio

Peoria Public Radio

News Channel 20 Springfield

I also want to thank Senator Sandoval, Senator DeWitte, Representative McDermed, AAA, the US Chamber, and the Illinois Municipal League for helping to raise the report's profile.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

This week, the bipartisan capital discussions continued with participating legislators sharing that they feel the discussions are moving forward. No legislative action happened, but now is the time in session when the four caucuses and the Governor need to begin coalescing around a plan. Meetings are being held today after session adjourned, so hopefully we will see progress next week.

FEDERAL UPDATE

I was in DC two days this week to discuss the need for increased investment at the federal level as well. The federal surface transportation funding bill does not expire until next fall (2020), but there have been discussions about increasing federal spending and/or stabilizing the Highway Trust Fund before then. There was some optimism that something may be done this year among the members of our delegation who are in leadership and, therefore, closest to the ongoing talks with the President. However, the delegation felt that a bill would need to be done by June if it were to pass this year.

Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer are scheduled to meet with President Trump next week to discuss an infrastructure package details. We may know more then.