Committee Update
The Senate Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday, December 7th. This will be a virtual hearing to discuss the “organizational structure of the Illinois Tollway.” It is scheduled to start at 10 am, although as many of you know that’s “Senate time”.
Other Legislative Updates
HB 1769 Electric Vehicle Incentives Package was signed into law. This bill establishes the "reimagining Electric Vehicles in Illinois Act." Provides incentives to Electric Vehicle manufacturers, their suppliers, and electric vehicle power supply manufacturers. Prior editions of the newsletters covered this bill in depth.
HB 4212 (Hernandez, B.) was recently introduced. It amends the Regional Transportation Authority Act to provides that on and after January 1, 2023, any fixed route public transportation services provided by or through the Commuter Rail Board shall be provided at a 50% discounted fare off the non-discounted adult fare to all students who present a valid student ID card issued within the previous 12 months by a college or university, or under such conditions as shall be prescribed by the Commuter Rail Board.
HB 4235 (Moylan) was recently introduced. It creates the Electronic Vehicle Combined Charging System Act. Provides that a licensed dealer may not sell an electric vehicle that is capable of direct current fast charging unless the electric vehicle is manufactured with charging equipment compatible with the Combined Charging System or includes an adapter at the time of purchase that allows the vehicle to be charged using the Combined Charging System. Provides that a violation of the Act is an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, and makes a corresponding change in that Act.
Future of Work Taskforce Meeting Update
The Illinois Future of Work Taskforce met this week for the third time. We met at the campus of Elgin Community College. It was my first time visiting and it’s an impressive campus.
The first speaker was Darrell West, Vice President of Brookings Government Studies. Mr. West spoke about the shift to a digital economy being accelerated by robotics, AI, and automation. He pointed out that 15% of US counties account for 71% of our nation’s GDP. He also emphasized the need for adult education and questioned who should bear that financial burden.
The Q & A session was particularly interesting as elected officials in the room steered the conversation to portable benefits.
Senator Villivalam said he was interested in a pilot program on the issue and worries about big companies, especially tech companies “distorting competition.” Senator Castro, meanwhile, expressed anger that gig companies do not pay unemployment benefits and worries portable benefits water down other (namely, union) benefits.
Aaron Rieke from Upturn was next. He spoke about AI interviews and predicative technology. His study was based entirely on activities within D.C. and his lack of awareness of Illinois’ groundbreaking AI interview law resulted in pushback from the business community. Also, his assertion that interview questions should only be skills based rather than attitude based seemed backwards. You can teach a skill, but attitude is unchanging. You ever work on a team with an insufferable person? It’s miserable.
Next, Kate Gebo highlighted some of the great work being done by United Airlines. She highlighted the new partnership to help train aviation mechanics in Rockford (more on this below).
I introduced Nicole Overley from Deloitte. She said the United States is in the midst of our fourth industrial revolution. Deloitte expects a loss of 85 million jobs worldwide but this is more than made up by the creation of 97 million new jobs.
Nicole also said 32% of employees worldwide work remotely. This is expected to increase to 51%. In a Bloomberg study from earlier this year, nearly 50% of employees say they’d consider quitting their jobs without the ability to work remotely. As someone with a toddler and a kindergartner, I’m thrilled to get to the office in the mornings and have no idea how these people do it…
My Remarks at the Taskforce
Above, I gave a breakdown about what happened in the meeting. I had the pleasure of introducing Nicole to the taskforce and I wanted to send you a copy of my remarks as they reflect my sense of where the taskforce currently stands:
I’m proud of the work task force is doing but I’m concerned the tone has been unnecessarily pessimistic. Yet the march of human history is undeniably upward. 150 years ago, Zachary Taylor, the President of the United States- the most powerful man in the world- died from drinking water tainted with feces in the White House! No one in this room had a similar concern this morning.
At the turn of the previous century, people were terrified of the loss of jobs for carriage builders and horseshoe makers. Yet look at all the jobs and prosperity created by our friends in the automotive industry. We are all better off because of innovation.
During WWII, an Austrian and Harvard Professor, Joseph Schumpeter taught us the concept of “creative destruction.” That living things- including economies- either change or they stagnant and die. Change is healthy, expected, and welcomed.
Today, technology has made our lives better in immeasurable ways, both large and small. My GPS failed on the drive here. I had to use a paper map and felt like I was interpreting a cave painting. Put me on the Oregon Trail and I’m probably dying of Cholera. Today, United Airlines takes me nonstop to Utah in just a few hours.
If I put a time machine in the center of this room that could give any of you the opportunity to go live in the past, I submit you’d be foolish to do so. The arc of history points upward. If you don't agree with me and want to go back, well, don’t drink the water.
So today, I want to remind this group that the future is not a cliff that we have to worry about falling off. It is a stairway upward and we should embrace it with optimism and enthusiasm.
President & CEO Maisch Talks Paid Leave
Earlier, Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch spoke on The 21st to discuss the Chamber’s stance on paid family leave proposals, both federally and in Illinois. He was joined by Corliss King, a Chicago based flight attendant and 2nd Vice President for TWU Local 556. Bob Bruno, Professor of Labor and Employment Relations also provided commentary. The 21st is a production of Illinois Public Media.
Maisch's main argument was that employers and employees should be afforded as much flexibility as possible to work with one another. He noted that any paid leave proposal will affect different sized businesses and industries in a unique fashion.
Concerning potential legislation, Maisch said that 50 different state laws concerning paid leave is not workable for most businesses. Rather, a federal framework with bipartisan support must be put in place.
Listen to the full segment here.
$94 Million in Capital Funding to Revitalize Public Airports
Wednesday this week IDOT announced $94 million has been awarded to public airports throughout the state. This will be paired with $11.5 million in local contributions for a total investment exceeding $100 million. This is the largest statewide capital funding for airports in Illinois’ history.
A total of 96 projects were selected for funding. A sampling of the projects:
- Quad Cities International Airport, $3.3 million for entrance road realignment, $2.3 million for aircraft parking expansion.
- Taylorville Municipal Airport, $1.4 million for runway rehabilitation.
- Bolingbrook’s Clow International Airport, $2.4 million for taxiway replacement, $75,000 for replacement of rotating beacon.
- Vermilion Regional Airport, $500,000 for perimeter fence, $350,000 for entrance road rehabilitation.
- Shelby County Airport, $460,000 toward hangar construction.
- Effingham County Memorial Airport, $3.5 million for runway extension, $1.5 million for taxiway extension.
- Crawford County Airport, $4.9 million for new taxiway.
- Kewanee Municipal Airport, $1.1 million for hangar access taxi lane reconstruction, $700,000 to replace fuel system.
- Quincy Regional Airport, $3.5 million to build aircraft apron and road, $2.4 million for T-hangar and taxiway.
- Schaumburg Regional, $105,000 for fuel system installation, $70,000 for security gate modifications.
- Pekin Municipal Airport, $1.05 million for T-hangar pavement and access road construction, $800,000 to replace fuel system.
- St. Louis Downtown Airport, $5 million for ramp and taxiway access from airfield as well as noise and jet blast mitigation.
- Southern Illinois Airport, $835,000 for apron expansion, $280,000 for road relocation.
United Airlines, AAR, and the City of Rockford Announce Aviation Mechanic Training Grant
United Airlines joined with AAR Corp. to announce a $2.6 million investment to fast-track training for in-demand aviation mechanics. The state funds will be used to expand and implement a comprehensive workforce strategy including apprenticeship opportunities offered through AAR’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at the Rockford Airport.
$3.1 Million to Advance Safety Improvements at West Grand Avenue Rail-Highway Crossing in Elmwood Park
This week, the Illinois Commerce Commission authorized the use of $3.1 million from the Multi-Modal Transportation Bond Fund, part of the Chamber backed Rebuild Illinois Capital Bill, to pay for Phase 2 Engineering costs to develop plans for a grade separation at the West Grand Avenue highway-rail crossing in Elmwood Park. Many of you might remember that 16 people were injured at the site on November 23, 2005 when a Metra train traveling 70 mph struck six vehicles on the tracks, forcing them to collide with another 11 vehicles.
“In addition to providing funds for Phase 2 Engineering, the action we took enables Elmwood Park to apply for federal grants to help fund construction of the project which is significant,” said ICC Chairman Carrie Zalewski. “This project exemplifies our agencies long-standing commitment to keep pedestrians, motorists, and railroad employees safe at rail-highway crossing.”
The authorized funding for Phase 2 Engineering will be used for the development of contract plans, specifications, and detailed estimates for a proposed grade separation. As the bridge plans near completion, the Village of Elmwood Park must file a formal petition with the Commission for approval of the design, construction, maintenance, and any associated items for the proposed grade separation
