Illinois spent more on transportation, saw more roads crumble
Illinois’ inefficient spending on its transportation needs led the state to spend more as its roads got worse. But there is a solution if the state can minimize politics in the decision process and prioritize public need.
Illinois has been investing more in roads than ever before, but the most recent data shows road conditions haven’t improved.
Since 2015, the Illinois road fund has grown by over $2 billion. Taxpayers have borne the brunt of this increase, with the state collecting $2 billion more annually in motor fuel taxes, tolls and licensing in just the past six years.
Despite spending more, roads have not improved, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. In 2015, 81.6% of roads were rated as acceptable. By 2022, that number dropped to 79.3% – as the rest of the nation improved. These results are troubling given how important transportation is to the state economy.
The core issue has been inefficient spending. According to the Reason Foundation, Illinois spent $98,386 per lane-mile in 2022. This was up 30% from just three years earlier. Even worse, this is $30,000 more than the expected cost from the Reason Foundation’s cost-efficiency model, which accounts for factors such as urbanization and road usage.
Political influence has contributed to this inefficiency by shifting priorities and slowing repairs and new construction. Illinois politicians have prioritized pork projects and ribbon-cutting photo-ops rather than improving existing infrastructure based on merit and public need.
Performance-based budgeting
Illinois needs to streamline its processes and cut out political influence in project planning. One way to do that is by expanding performance-based budgeting. Illinois has only recently implemented performance-based budgeting for road infrastructure, well after the state dedicated tens of billions towards roads and bridges through the “Rebuild Illinois” act.
Minnesota is a good example of performance-based budgeting. It has a long-standing performance-based budgeting model, which has been integrated into nearly all infrastructure planning and development. The main features include: a focus on improvements that benefit both project and system need; improved decision-making quality upon performance analysis; promoting scrutiny of each element of a project’s scope relative to value, need and urgency; increased emphasis on planning and ability to implement the approach within the state’s regulatory environment.
Minnesota has managed to keep costs low, while providing significant improvements to its road system. In 2022, 92% of Minnesota roads were considered acceptable, over 7% higher than in 2015. Meanwhile, the state spent $41,462 per lane-mile, only a 3% increase over their 2019 expenditure and in line with their expected spending. Considering Minnesota’s winters are harsher and construction season shorter, that efficiency is impressive; Illinois spending more than double that is disturbing.
Conclusion
Illinois needs to greatly expand and incorporate cost-efficiency throughout its road infrastructure development. It also needs to curb political interference.
The state has received $17.8 billion in federal money to pay for part of this, but with political uncertainty and federal cost-cutting measures, the state can’t count on federal money. The state already has plenty of money for transportation fixes if it cuts the cost of political pork.