Illinois Valley Times

Illinois State Rep. Jed Davis (R-Newark) recently shared information on the six-year plan unveiled by the Illinois Department of Transportation to improve the state's infrastructure. The nearly $41 billion plan is the largest multiyear plan in Illinois history.

Davis wrote in a Facebook post this week that "the Illinois Department of Transportation unveiled a plan on Friday for spending nearly $41 billion in federal, state and local funds over the next six years to repair and upgrade roads, bridges, airports, rail lines and other infrastructure throughout the state."

According to his bio page, Davis, 43, is the regional sales manager for National Oilwell Varco and has previously served as the board president at Parkview Christian Academy in Yorkville. He was born in Lisbon, Illinois, and has been a Newark village trustee since 2013.

Davis shared a link to a Capitol News Illinois piece on the six-year plan in his post. Capitol News reports, “More than half of the plan, $27 billion, will go toward road and bridge projects, including $4.6 billion in the current fiscal year. That will fund repair and reconstruction of 2,866 miles of roadway and 9.8 million square feet of bridge deck on the state highway system, along with another 738 miles of roadway and 1.1 million square feet of bridge deck in systems maintained by local governments.”

A fiscal year 24-29 multimodal multi-year program overview further breaks down spending. It notes that the funding will go to “almost 60 transit providers, nearly 80 public airports, 7 major railroads, and 19 public ports.” 

That funding breaks down to annual costs of $9.85 billion for 44 transit projects, $2.67 billion for 27 rail projects, $1.25 billion for 334 air projects and $185.8 million for 30 port projects.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced the program in a recent press release. “Over the next six years, we're investing over $40 billion to improve all modes of transportation across our great state. That means better roads and bridges, modernized transit and aviation, and expanded and faster passenger rail service. 

"Rebuild Illinois has increased safety, efficiency, and opportunities for residents all over the state — and over the next few years, we will keep building on that progress, with all 102 counties of Illinois included in the multi-year program,” Pritzker said.