PRESS RELEASE from the
ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE

CONTACT: Micky Horstman (312) 607-4977

Gov. Pritzker signs bill to show how Illinois construction funds are spent
Illinois Policy Institute experts say this is progress for government transparency and efficient infrastructure spending 

CHICAGO (Aug. 24, 2021) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed House Bill 253 today, giving Illinoisans a better look at how state transportation funds are spent, including the nation’s second-highest gasoline taxes. The new law should help ensure future infrastructure investments are made in the public interest.

Under this bill, the Illinois Department of Transportation will be tasked with prioritizing projects based on a data-driven cost benefit analysis. Projects will be selected based on the highest return for taxpayer dollars, which should guarantee the most important, frequently used and damaged infrastructure is handled first. Data-driven project selection tends to encourage repair and maintenance of existing infrastructure over new projects, which offers a higher return for taxpayers and discourages frivolous or politically motivated spending.

HB 253 applies to new infrastructure projects that are selected by IDOT after Jan. 1, 2022.

Analysis of the bill finds:

• IDOT will create a “risk-and-performance” based methodology for weighing the costs and benefits of each proposed infrastructure project. The allocation of infrastructure spending will be based on relative costs and benefits for taxpayers, weighing considerations such as congestion, safety, accessibility, economic development and effects on the environment.
• Maintaining existing infrastructure delivers more benefits to taxpayers than highly visible, costly projects that politicians often use as a publicity boost while pursuing reelection.
• The bill is based off the Virginia SMART Scale program, which is widely credited with improving infrastructure efficiency and quality of life in Virginia.
• It will not affect many projects under the Rebuild Illinois program, such as ongoing projects or those selected prior to January 2022.

Adam Schuster, senior director of budget and tax research, offered the following statement:

“This bill removes the politics from infrastructure spending – ensuring funding for the everyday projects Illinoisans need most, rather than flashy, wasteful spending on pork projects. Instead of politicians cherry-picking expensive projects for their districts without any rhyme or reason, projects will be prioritized to get the highest returns for taxpayers based on data. Illinoisans will be given a clearer view of why certain projects are accepted and others are rejected, allowing taxpayers to better hold politicians accountable for their decisions.”

For bookings or interviews, contact media@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977.