The Governor’s recommended budget includes IDOT’s operating budget only.  This budget contains no Capital funds for transportation projects.  The Fiscal Year 2013 total funds of $2.662 billion is a decrease of $7.4 million or 0.3% below the Fiscal Year 2012 total funds budget of $2.670.

The Department’s Capital budget is included in the Capital Development Board’s appropriation.  However, discussion of the IDOT Capital budget will be included below.  The total FY13 new Capital request for IDOT is $1.64 billion.  The total IDOT Capital appropriation request is $13.6 billion.

Road Program

• The Governor’s FY13 recommended budget includes an anemic $1 billion in new funding for the State’s Road Program. 
• The FY13 Capital Plan includes a $2.9 billion re-appropriation from Transportation Series A and D bond funds.  Approximately $500 million of these funds are anticipated to be used to supplement the annual FY13 Program.  The total FY13 Road Program will be approximately $1.5 billion or half the size of the FY12 Program. 
• One year ago, IDOT projected the FY13 Road Program at over $2.2 billion.  The $700 million reduction is due to a miscalculation of Road Fund revenues according to the Department.  No additional information is available at this time. 
• Specific projects for the FY13 Program as well as the Multi-Year Program total are not yet available.
• This is the smallest Road Program in non-inflation adjusted dollars since FY99.

Transit

Illinois Jobs Now! provided $3 billion in Transportation Series B bonds for transit.    

The recommended state operating assistance program for downstate mass transit, excluding paratransit, totals $214.1 million, which is $20.8 million or 10.8% over FY12 appropriations.

The RTA operating subsidy for FY13 totals $433.7 million, which is $9 million or 2.1% over the FY12 appropriation.

Airports

• The Governor’s proposed budget includes $130 million Federal/Local Airport Fund for airport safety improvements, runway rehabilitation and construction, and taxiways at local airports.

Rail

• The FY13 recommended budget includes $26 million Road Funds for state support of Amtrak as discussed above. 
• The Capital Budget includes a $535 million reappropriation for the CREATE program.  This program is intended to improve freight rail transportation through the Chicago region.  It currently takes as much time for a freight train to pass through the Chicago region as it does for that train to travel from the west coast to Chicago.
• The Capital Budget includes $400 million in new and $1.6 billion in reappropriations for high-speed rail construction.
• The rail freight program has a recommended appropriation level of $2.7 million.  The Department answers requests for assistance to construct and rehabilitate rail facilities from local governments, economic development groups, new and existing industries, and agribusiness and railroad companies.

Road Fund Diversions

For the second straight year, the Administration is shifting GRF costs to the Road Fund in FY13 to the tune of $49.4 million. 

• The Amtrak subsidy is flat at $26 million Road Fund in FY13.
• The RTA reduced fare subsidy is flat at $34.1 million in FY13.  $23.4 million is coming from the Road Fund. 

Headcount

• The Department is requesting a headcount increase of 50 employees in FY13.
• The headcount increase is requested to maintain the roads as a result of Illinois Jobs Now!  However, given the size of the proposed Road Program questions arise as to why there is a need for additional headcount since there will be virtually no funds available to maintain roads in Illinois.