More than $4.6 billion per year is necessary to bring all roads, bridges and transit systems into a state of good repair, according to the report Forecasting Bumpy Roads Ahead: An Assessment of Illinois’ Transportation Needs.
The report also stated that Illinois DOT requires an additional $10 billion between 2018 and 2023 to bring all road miles into an acceptable condition and repair all backlog bridges.
In addition, total capital needs for statewide transit systems total more than $41 billion to bring them to a state of good repair through the next 10 years, including $2.72 billion per year above existing funding for the Regional Transit Authority and $0.20 billion per year for downstate transit.
The number of “backlog” IDOT roadway miles — indicating deterioration that requires immediate maintenance — has increased by 85 percent, from 1,700 in 2000 to more than 3,300 in 2015, and 20 percent of all Illinois DOT roadways are currently in “poor” condition compared to only 8 percent in 2001. Less than 60 percent of systems and 70 percent of guide way elements in the Regional Transportation Authority’s systems are considered to be in “good repair” or within their useful life, according to the report.
If current funding strategies continue, the number of “backlog” road miles and bridges are expected to increase by 101 percent and 64 percent, respectively, by the year 2023.
You can find the full report here.
