Illinois

Illinois state transportation officials say this year’s 19-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase means millions of more dollars to help fix aging downstate roads.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has drafted a $41.5 billion plan that would rely on a slew of new taxes and tax increases to repair the state’s infrastructure.

Illinois’ recent score of a C- on the American Society of Civil Engineers’ infrastructure scorecard signals underinvestment from elected officials, according to Darren Olson, chairman of the report card study.

Six months after lawmakers hastily passed their first state budget in two years, transportation advocates are sounding the alarm on a little-noticed item that will take $300 million from road repairs to pay other expenses each year.