Infrastructure Council Meeting and Capital Updates

Rebecca Mason | Executive Director, Infrastructure Council | 217-522-5512 x 234

The Infrastructure Council is a subgroup of the Illinois Chamber that focuses on increasing infrastructure investments in a strategic and thoughtful way to boost the overall business climate in Illinois. Our focus is on the public and private systems that are essential to Illinois businesses.

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March 21, 2019

INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING

The first infrastructure council meeting of 2019 is scheduled or Thursday, April 4th at 8:30 in Springfield at the Hanson Professional Services offices. If you plan to come down for the meeting, the Transportation for Illinois Coalition is holding their lobby day April 3rd and Chamber members are welcome to participate in the lobby day or the reception at the end of the day, so you can see legislators and network with a wider group of people April 3rd followed by our meeting April 4th. Please RSVP to me and let me know if you plan to attend the TFIC events also.

Thank you to our meeting sponsor BNSF Railway.

Agenda

April 4^th: Hanson Professional Services

1525 South Sixth Street, Springfield

8:30: IDOT Director of Highways Paul Loete to talk about the rollout of the Transportation Asset Management Plan and the state's needs and condition

9:00: Rebecca Mason on ways Council Members can help advocate for a capital funding bill

9:15-9:20: Networking break and materials distributed

9:20: Business Meeting

Update on Capital Discussions

Legislation Update

Critical Infrastructure Summit

Waterways Update

Planned Closure of Illinois River Locks and Dams

Brandon Road update

Federal Surface Transportation

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

The Senate Appropriations and Transportation Committees met Monday in Decatur to hear about local needs there. As with the previous meeting in Edwardsville, Transportation Committee Chair Sandoval pressed those testifying on whether they would support a motor fuel tax increase and increased minority hiring. Testimony emphasized the need for local funding and the challenges local governments face with rising costs and declining revenues. Coverage

Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers has introduced legislation they are calling a "mini" capital bill. While I like some aspects of their legislation, the Chamber has concerns with a single bill sitting out that does not adequately address our needs, focuses largely on a single mode, and does not include any measures to minimize the impact to consumers or businesses. We think there needs to be a continuing conversation on ideas. A short summary is here. If you'd like more information, please reach out. The legislation is SB 103 Amendment 1.

FEDERAL UPDATE

Congressman Rodney Davis spoke to the Chamber's Lobby Day participants Wednesday. He emphasized that Congress is working toward a funding bill, but the question remains over whether they will do a single surface transportation authorization bill or if they will pass two bills: a separate boost in funding and a surface transportation authorization.

TALKING FREIGHT SEMINARS

The recording of the latest Talking Freight Seminar on using data to enhance freight planning is available. Talking Freight is put on by the Federal Highway Administration.

LEGISLATION

SB 24, which mandates a two person crew, was moved to the Senate Executive Committee late last week and heard Wednesday. The legislation came out of Senate Executive, but questions remained among the yes votes. The final vote was 12-5-1 along party lines with one Democrat voting present.

You can review the legislation I am tracking at the links below. We have passed the bill introduction deadline, so if you see any legislation with which you have concerns, please let me know. I have included the summary of each bill in these reports.

Transportation Report

Telecommunications Report

Water Report