With investment, we can have the transportation system we want and need
The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) ON TO 2050 plan highlights the urgent need to secure sustainable, sufficient revenues for our transportation system. The public deserves a safe and reliable transportation system. As North America’s freight nexus, our region’s transportation network has long been our strategic advantage. Yet from roads to transit, the system is in dire need of repair. Investing in it will provide residents with more options and reliability to get where they are going, and move goods more efficiently and safely through the region.

This page includes resources illustrating deficiencies in our current revenues, principles for sustainable transportation funding, ON TO 2050’s revenue proposals, and other relevant resources.

Understanding the challenge and potential solutions
State and federal revenues are stagnating while costs are increasing. To guide ongoing discussions about a state capital plan and potential revenue sources, the CMAP board adopted principles for sustainable transportation funding:

• We need a long-term solution that can adapt to emerging trends.

• Costs should be paid by those who derive the most benefit from the system.

• Revenue sources should consider the ability of users to pay.

• Using performance-based criteria to select what is funded results in the very best projects being chosen regardless of mode.

ON TO 2050 recommends fully funding the region's transportation system with a variety of reliable sources over the long-term:

• Make better use of existing dollars by applying performance-based programming, including expanding cost-effective asset management practices.

• Increase the state motor fuel tax by at least 15 cents and index the rate to inflation.

• Starting with a pilot program, modernize transportation revenue collection with a road usage charge.

• Expand the sales tax base to additional consumer services.

• Implement a federal freight cost of service fee to support a multimodal freight transportation program.

• Implement tolling on the region's expressways, as well as other innovative-user based revenue options.

• Create a regional revenue source.

• Expand priced parking to raise revenues and achieve local goals.

You may also want to:

• View CMAP’s 2019 State Legislative Agenda.

• Spread the word and share your thoughts via Twitter @cmapillinois or Facebook using the hashtag #2050BigIdeas.

• Subscribe to CMAP’s newsletter for ongoing updates on this issue.