The Illinois Department of Transportation is disbursing $250 million to counties, municipalities and townships statewide to address their transportation needs – the third funding installment from the $33.2 billion Rebuild Illinois capital program established in 2019.

[Above photo by the Illinois DOT.]

That $250 million is part of $1.5 billion worth of funding spread out in six installments over three years to advance municipal, township and county projects across the state.

Projects, which will be selected and managed locally with financial oversight by Illinois DOT, include road and bridge improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new storm sewers and bike paths, sidewalk replacements and other long-term maintenance needs.

That funding is in addition to the regular contributions through the state’s motor fuel tax formula, which already account for $567 million to local governments in this fiscal year alone, the Illinois DOT said.

That money also bolsters local infrastructure investments in order to improve safety, enhance quality of life and help sustain the economy across the state, explained said Governor JB Pritzker (D) in a statement.

Omer Osman, Illinois DOT’s acting secretary said that as part of its current fiscal year 2021-26 proposed highway improvement program, the Illinois DOT is investing a total of $21.3 billion to improve roads and bridges, with $4.7 billion targeted to local transportation system needs.