SR0607 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0607 LRB099 12617 GRL 36224 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Illinois' system of roads and bridges is rapidly aging; the Transportation for Illinois Coalition estimates that the Illinois Department of Transportation needs an additional $1.8 billion each year to pay for day-to-day maintenance and to pay for a borrowing plan to finance long-term upgrades; and

WHEREAS, Federal funding for State highways has decreased in recent years and is likely to continue to decrease; and

WHEREAS, While revenue to help pay for road repair and construction from Illinois' current motor fuel tax has remained flat as motor vehicles have become increasingly fuel efficient, the costs associated with road and bridge repair and construction have continued to rise; and

WHEREAS, Illinois' current motor fuel taxes, which drivers pay based on the gallons of gasoline they purchase, are unable to properly fund the maintenance of roads and bridges, much less needed improvements; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that the Illinois Department of Transportation is directed to conduct a study on the feasibility of a mileage-based user fee program for the State and report on the results of the study; and be it further

RESOLVED, The report shall include the following:

(1) a draft charter for a governance and administration authority which defines the overarching goals, implementation scope, governance structure, and nominal performance metrics of the mileage-based user fee program;

(2) an organizational framework which defines the recommended administrative and governance composition for a mileage-based user fee program;

(3) technical and operational designs for system users;

(4) financial reporting, auditing, and enforcement strategies for mileage-based user fee administration;

(5) an implementation schedule to deploy the mileage-based user fee system;

(6) a business case for a mileage-based user fee program to forecast potential mileage-based user fee revenues over a 20-year period;

(7) a detailed cost estimate to deploy and administer the mileage-based user fee program;

(8) identification of the risks associated with the deployment and administration of a mileage-based user fee program with mitigation strategies and recommendations for each risk; and

(9) a public outreach and engagement strategy and framework to identify the messages, mediums, and methods for educating and informing residents of this State regarding the mileage-based user fee program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, in conducting this study, the Department shall use the following considerations:

(1) defining an alternative means of funding State transportation expenditures based on a motorist's vehicle miles traveled rather than the current funding structure using the motor fuel tax;

(2) the availability, adaptability, reliability, and security of methods that might be used in measuring, recording, and reporting highway use;

(3) the necessity of protecting all personally identifiable information used in reporting highway use;

(4) identifying means for collecting vehicle miles traveled data for the mileage-based user fee program, including at least one alternative that does not rely on electronic vehicle location data;

(5) minimizing the amount of personal information including location tracking information needed to report vehicle miles traveled and levy a mileage-based user fee;

(6) identifying processes for collecting, managing, storing, transmitting, and destroying data to protect the integrity of the data and safeguard the privacy of system users;

(7) the ease and cost of administering the collection of taxes and fees as an alternative to the current system of taxing highway use through a motor fuel tax;

(8) the availability of existing assets and infrastructure to minimize mileage-based user fee administration costs;

(9) established contracting and procurement rules for acquiring mileage-based user fee equipment and services;

(10) lessons learned from previously completed mileage-based user fee programs in other states;

(11) geographic and socioeconomic considerations including rural and urban motorists; and

(12) the current availability of technologies and expectations for technological advances which can be leveraged for a mileage-based user fee program; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department shall submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly on or before March 1, 2016.