Infrastructure Council Meeting

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

The Infrastructure Council is an initiative of the Illinois Chamber that brings together Chamber members with a focus 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.

View Past Newsletters

April 4, 2019

INFRASTRUCTURE MEETING

Our first meeting of 2019 was held today at Hanson Professional Services in Springfield. A huge thanks to our meeting sponsor as well, BNSF Railway!

The agenda and materials are available here.

We heard from IDOT Director of Highways Project Implementation Paul Loete about the significant need for increased investment in the state's road system, as well as the other modes of transportation in Illinois. Paul also talked about the rollout of the Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP) and ways industry can help to explain to the public what the TAMP is, it's goals, and why we are implementing it.

I spoke to the group about a few ways members can help advocate for a funding bill. If you would be interested in any of the following, please send me an email.

Participating in local media efforts through op-eds, letters to the editor, or interviews;

Signing the TFIC petition (available here also); or

Participating in meetings in district with elected officials (I hope to set these up over the summer and will reach out to members located in each district where a meeting is set).

I also provided an update on capital discussions in Springfield. If you'd like more details, please reach out.

Included in the materials is a list of bills the Infrastructure Council took a position on this session that have made it out of committee. Please let me know if we are missing an important piece of legislation that affects your business.

Critical Infrastructure Summit

The Infrastructure Council hosts the Critical Infrastructure Summit to hear from experts in all things infrastructure. Look for a save the date soon. If you have ideas for speakers or topics you would like to hear, please let me know. I'd love suggestions! Last year's agenda is here.

Closure of Illinois River Locks and Dams

As a reminder, the two locks on the Illinois River are scheduled for partial closure for about two weeks and full closure for about two weeks this summer. Significantly more locks will be closed in 2020 and another two will close in 2023 for a period of time each summer. You can review that schedule here.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Discussions about capital funding bills for transportation and non-transportation initiatives continued this week. The Governor continues to convene a working group of legislators from all four caucuses four times a week. The legislature has one more session week before the spring break.