Public Accountability Report

The accompanying performance report for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) outlines and encompasses the performance of the entire agency as defined among six program categories: Aeronautics, Highway Construction, Public Transportation, Rail, Roadway Maintenance, and Traffic Safety.

The six programs all support the ongoing mission of IDOT: To provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity and demonstrate respect for our environment. Goals and objectives outlined in the report are designed to meet IDOT’s statutory mandates and performance expectations under state and federal law, including requirements for all four modal divisions – Aeronautics, Highways, Public and Intermodal Transportation, and Transportation Safety. Approximately 65% percent of the state’s transportation related resources for the highway program are directed to maintain and improve the state system of highways and bridges. The department is responsible for nearly 16,000 state highway miles, including 2,185 miles of Interstate highways and 7,847 state bridges. IDOT’s annual highway improvement program for fiscal year 2022 totaled approximately $4.1 billion and helped create or support thousands of private-sector jobs in construction and related categories across the state. The department’s goal is to keep at least 87 state bridges in acceptable condition or better, and these state construction projects are accomplished. System conditions after fiscal year 2022 were 90 percent of state construction projects accomplished. IDOT in 2022 improved 1032 miles of pavement on the state system. Pavement condition is measured using the state’s Condition Rating Survey and a computerized estimate of deterioration. This rating system considers factors such as pavement roughness, rutting and faulting and incorporates predominant pavement distresses. The average rating for all state highways in fiscal year 2022 placed the state’s overall road system in the “good” descriptive category.

IDOT’s support-service goals in areas such as aeronautics, rail and public transportation target the efficient delivery of state and federal transportation grants and other funds to eligible local and regional service providers across Illinois. Outcome indicators for these areas show generally strong levels of service regarding the availability, reliability and public use of airports, passenger rail and public transit services. IDOT also promotes highway safety through programs providing extra enforcement and educational activities to encourage safe driving and the use of safety belts and child safety seats, and to discourage driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Challenges for the future primarily center on ensuring the consistency and growth of resources to meet increasing statewide transportation needs. These include the federal discussion of future revenues going to states for surface transportation improvements, along with the Illinois challenge to provide sufficient state resources to match all available federal revenues and continue the statewide effort to rebuild and preserve the state transportation system, including roads, bridges, transit, rail and aviation facilities.