Andrew Cunningham l Executive Director, Infrastructure Council l 217-520-2345

Session Update

The General Assembly adjourned last month in the early morning of Saturday, May 27th. Per SJR 42, the House and Senate have adjourned until the call of the Speaker and the Senate President. The 2023 fall veto session has been announced for October 24th-26th and November 7th-9th. View the calendar here.

Illinois EPA Announces $12.6 Million in Grants for Public Light-Duty Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

$12.6 million is being awarded to 10 applicants for electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The grants will fund 348 new Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) ports at 87 locations throughout Illinois. The awards are based on a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) issued in the fall of 2022 seeking publicly accessible locations in the three priority areas outlined in the Volkswagen (VW) Beneficiary Mitigation Plan (BMP). 

The Illinois EPA is funding DCFC light-duty charging stations at publicly accessible locations (shopping centers, retail stores, gas stations, hotels, etc.) in the three priority areas outlined in the VW BMP and specified in the initial NOFO. Grant awards in the priority area/counties are as follows and include 42 sites in Environmental Justice areas:

• Priority Area 1 = 34 Sites: Cook = 6, DuPage = 11, Kane = 8, Lake = 3, McHenry = 2, and Will = 3, Grundy County = 1
• Priority Area 2 = 22 Sites: Madison = 11, Monroe = 2, and St. Clair = 9
• Priority Area 3 = 31 Sites: Champaign = 7, DeKalb = 2, LaSalle = 4, McLean = 4, Peoria = 2, Sangamon = 3, and Winnebago = 9

Grant applicants were required to include a minimum of two projects in two or more of the priority areas. Applications with a minimum of three projects, one in each of the three priority areas, were prioritized for review, scoring, and funding.

Release: IDOT Student Loan Assistance Program for Engineering

Illinois’ first-ever student loan assistance program targeted to engineering students working at the Illinois Department of Transportation has become law. This measure creates a pilot program enabling the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to provide student loan repayment assistance to qualifying employees that meet certain requirements, helping to attract and encourage educated professionals to work on the state’s highest priority infrastructure projects.

Introduced by Sen. Ram Villivalam, the program was proposed by ACEC Illinois, passed into law and funded by the General Assembly with the provision of $750,000 in the budget to support it. The proposal provides for higher education student loan repayment assistance in the form of annual after-tax bonuses of $15,000 per year for not more than 4 years, for up to 50 engineers employed by IDOT. This will help address the shortage of skilled talent in the industry and help IDOT attract engineers and other qualified professionals to work on the state’s infrastructure projects.

Gov. Pritzker Joins Missouri Officials to Celebrate Start of New I-270 Chain of Rocks Bridge

Governor Pritzker joined the departments of transportation in Illinois and Missouri to celebrate the start of construction on the new Interstate 270 Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River, part of a combined $531.6 million investment to improve one of the country's critical freight corridors. 

The I-270 loop connects many of the region's warehouses and distribution parks, ports, airports, and rail yards on both sides of the Mississippi River. Nearly 70% of the region's industrial tenants occupying large warehouse space in excess of 500,000 square feet are within ten minutes of the interstate.

Built in 1966, the existing bridge over the river is two lanes in each direction with narrow, one-foot shoulders that pose safety concerns for vehicle breakdowns and first responders. The bridge accommodates 51,000 vehicles a day, about 20% of which are trucks, and the structure requires frequent maintenance and repairs due to its age.

A $496.2 million joint IDOT-MoDOT project will replace the bridge with two structures that have wider shoulders that can accommodate the eventual expansion of I-270 to three lanes in each direction. A companion $35.4 million Missouri Department of Transportation project will reconstruct the Riverview Drive interchange just west of the bridge. Construction started last winter and is anticipated to wrap up in 2026.

Both Missouri and Illinois continue to coordinate on long-term plans to improve capacity and increase reliability of I-270 by adding a third lane in each direction, extending as far east as Illinois 157. In IDOT's current multiyear improvement program, $75 million is identified courtesy of Rebuild Illinois for an additional lane between the river and just east of St. Thomas Road, a project that includes the reconstruction of the Illinois 3 interchange.

Lincoln Service schedule change as passenger trains reach 110 mph

The Illinois Department of Transportation today announced schedule changes for Amtrak's Lincoln Service trains, following the successful implementation of the Chicago-to-St. Louis high-speed rail project and enabling passenger service to reach 110 mph. Effective June 26, the changes will eliminate approximately 15 minutes from existing 90 mph runtimes and 30 minutes from the initial 79 mph schedule.

In addition to increasing speeds, the $1.96 billion project has boosted reliability and safety while providing upgraded and new stations.

The project also provided major safety upgrades at 212 grade crossings by installing four-quadrant gates and loop detectors to help prevent collisions with vehicles on the tracks. Pedestrian gates and fencing were installed to prevent pedestrian accidents. Thirty-nine crossings deemed at-risk were permanently closed.

Funding for the project includes $1.66 billion in federal funding, primarily through an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant awarded in 2010, as well as $300 million in state and non-federal funds. The project broke ground in 2010 with major infrastructure improvements completed in 2018. From 2019 to 2023, IDOT has worked with project partners the Federal Railroad Administration, Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak to install and test a Positive Train Control system that allows passenger trains to increase their speed first to 90 mph and now 110 mph.

Bills of Interest Signed into Law:

HB 1105, ICC Approval of Eminent Domain-Support signed into law. This bill provides that property belonging to a public utility that provides water or sewer service and that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission may not be taken or damaged by eminent domain without prior approval of the Illinois Commerce Commission. Provides that the requirement does not apply to property to be acquired by a municipality with 140,000 or more inhabitants or a regional water commission formed under specified provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code or a municipality that is a member of such a regional water commission, only in furtherance of purposes authorized under the specified provisions of the Illinois Municipal Code, and limited solely to interests in real property and not improvements to or assets on the real property belonging to a public utility that provides water or sewer service and that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Illinois Commerce Commission.

HB 1236, Bidding signed into law. This bill Provides that, in determining the lowest responsible bidder, a county board of a county with fewer than 2,000,000 inhabitants may take into consideration the bidder's active participation in an applicable apprenticeship program registered with the United States Department of Labor.

HB 2907, Dispute Damages-Oppose signed into law. This bill provides that no award of monetary damages, except for damage done to an employer's property as a result of conduct prohibited by law, shall be granted by any court of this State in any case involving a labor dispute.

HB 3491, Prevailing Wage/Contractors-Oppose signed into law. This bill provides that any laborer, worker, or mechanic who is employed by the contractor or by any lower tier sub-contractor and is paid for services in a sum less than the prevailing wage rates for work performed on a project shall have a right of action for whatever difference there may be between the amount so paid and the prevailing rates required to be paid for work performed on the project.

HB 3551, Bond Authorization passed the House 74-37-0. As amended, this establishes the Bond Authorization Act of 2023. Amends the General Obligation Bond Act. Increases the total amount that the State of Illinois is authorized to issue in general obligation bonds from $79,256,839,969 to $79,440,839,969. Increases the amount of bond proceeds authorized to be used for various capital purposes. Increases the amount of bond proceeds authorized to be used by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for grants or loans to units of local government for planning, financing, and constructing sewage treatment works and solid waste disposal facilities. Decreases the amount of bond proceeds authorized to be used for specified coal and energy development purposes. Specifies that refunding bonds shall mature within the term of the bonds being refunded. Amends the Build Illinois Bond Act. Increases the total amount that the State of Illinois is authorized to issue in Build Illinois Act bonds from $9,484,681,100 to $10,019,681,100. Increases the amount of Build Illinois Act bond proceeds that may be used for various purposes. Provides that costs for advertising, printing, bond rating, travel of outside vendors, security, delivery, and legal and financial advisory services, initial fees of trustees, registrars, paying agents and other fiduciaries, initial costs of credit or liquidity enhancement arrangements, initial fees of indexing and remarketing agents, and initial costs of interest rate swaps, guarantees or arrangements to limit interest rate risk, as determined in the related Bond Sale Order, may be paid as reasonable costs of issuance and sale from the proceeds of each Bond sale. Allows 1% (rather than 0.5%) of the proceeds of bond sales to be used for specified costs. Requires the Governor's Office of Management and Budget to supply summaries of costs to the legislative leaders and the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability. Makes changes in provisions concerning the selection of bond counsel, the sale of bonds, and the maturing of refunding bonds.

SB 1653, Early Warning Pilot Program signed into law. This bill provides that the Department of Transportation shall establish a low-clearance early warning device pilot program. Provides that an early warning device may include, but is not limited to, LiDAR, radar, visual signal, or additional signage. Allows the Department of Transportation to work with the University of Illinois on the pilot program. Provides that the fine shall not exceed $1,000.

Rulemaking

There was no proposed or adopted rulemaking of note for this Council in the June 9th edition of the Illinois Register. However, was rulemaking of note in the June 16th edition of the Illinois Register.

The IEPA  adopted a new Part titled Charging Infrastructure Grant Program (35 IAC 285; 46 Ill Reg 14393) effective 6/1/23, implementing Public Act 102-662. This Part establishes a grant program to substantially offset the installation costs of Level 2 (at least 6.2 kw) and Level 3 (at least 100 kw) electric vehicle charging stations. Private organizations (sole proprietorships, partnerships, limited liability companies, and corporations) and public organizations (governmental bodies or subunits, including metropolitan or regional transportation planning districts) may apply for grants. Grant opportunities will be announced when funding is available and shall specify eligible applicants and eligible costs. Various incentives will be offered for charging station projects located in an equity investment eligible community (a community that has been disproportionately impacted by pollution or in which residents have historically been excluded from economic opportunities, particularly in the energy sector) or grants to equity investment eligible persons (residents of equity investment eligible communities, persons currently or formerly in the foster care system, or persons who were formerly incarcerated). Since 1st Notice, IEPA has added more details concerning these incentives, which may include additional funding of up to $500 per port for a Level 2 station and $2,500 per port for a Level 3 station; additional points in the evaluation process; or project prioritization. Applicants must agree to comply with the Prevailing Wage Act and, if applicable, the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act Apprenticeship Initiative.

Charging stations must conform to technical specifications outlined in the Part and must be accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to consumers on a walk-up basis (no access card or code required). All grants must conform to the procedures and requirements set forth in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act and associated regulations. Those affected by this rulemaking include small businesses and units of local government.

Annual Luncheon Sponsors

The Illinois Chamber is now seeking sponsors for our 2023 annual luncheon. Please reach out to me for sponsorship details.

Register Today! Illinois Chamber Women in Business Conference

June 21, 2023  

8:30 am – 2:30 pm  

NIU Center | 1120 E. Diehl Road Naperville, IL 60563  

The Illinois Chamber welcomes you to our annual women's conference as we come together to discuss and further dreams of our already strong women for a stronger Illinois. This year's theme is "Celebrate Success." The robust agenda will provide time for networking and connecting with professionals, and topics providing takeaways for all to take back to the office or home. Sponsorships are now available, more information here.  

Our keynote speaker, Karen Murphy is the SVP of Business Strategy and the Chief Financial Officer for the Chicago Bears where the football club champions players, staff, fans and communities on and off the field. Karen will discuss how through her graceful leadership, global perspective and deep experience, the Chicago Bears infuse a champion mindset for both football and business operations. Murphy will dig into the champion mindset that helped launch a strategic playbook on creativity and innovation, steeped in a customer centric approach.

Registration Link: Women in Business Conference

Illinois Chamber and Illinois National Guard Event

On behalf of the 13,000 members of the Illinois National Guard, you are cordially invited to celebrate the establishment of Camp Lincoln with us as well as attend a presentation on how local businesses can compete for millions of federal dollars in supplies and services purchased in Illinois by the Illinois National Guard each year. 

The presentation will be led by the United States Property and Fiscal Office for Illinois' Supervisory Contract Specialist Lt. Col. Mark Williams and will be held on July 6 at 10 a.m. in the Illinois Military Academy auditorium on Camp Lincoln, 1301 North MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield, IL 62702. 



On July 6, 1886, by order of Governor Richard J. Oglesby, Adjutant General Joseph W. Vance issued General Order 14. It read, “The permanent camp and rifle range established for the Illinois National Guard, near Springfield, is hereby designated and will be known as Camp Lincoln.” The camp consisted of 160 acres, is a mile long and a quarter mile wide and is just a half mile from President Abraham Lincoln’s tomb. The land originally cost $18,100. 

Throughout 2023 the Illinois National Guard is celebrating its 300^th Birthday by marking significant dates in the history it shares with communities across Illinois. Among those communities are Greater Springfield business leaders. Camp Lincoln is the headquarters of the Illinois National Guard and one of its key training and maintenance facilities. Camp Lincoln and the 183^rd Wing bring in millions of federal dollars to Springfield each year and the Illinois National Guard is among the city’s largest employers.  

Interested participants can RSVP to the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office by e-mail: ng.il.ilarng.list.staff-pao@army.mil or by calling 217-761-3569.

Articles of Interest  

Illinois legislators push for I-55 expansion, Chicagoans concerned about environmental impacts

State ready to test viability of One Central — and its $6.5 billion subsidy ask

West Coast Dockworkers and Ports Reach Contract Agreement

Robots Are Looking to Bring a Human Touch to Warehouses

EV Makers Confront the ‘Nickel Pickle’