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Did You Know?

While the Chicago region’s population grew by 18 percent since 1980, the traffic increased by 66 percent in the same period.

Take action now for more sidewalks and bike lanes on state roads

After passing in the Illinois House of Representatives last month, our bill — HB 270 to eliminate the local cost share for walking and biking infrastructure on state roads has now passed out of committee in the Illinois Senate.

But there’s only two weeks left in the legislative session and we need to make sure it’s called to the floor for a vote.
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Please ask your senator to co-sponsor HB 270 and vote for it when it’s called on the floor. 

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Under current law, when the state is rebuilding a road, the state covers 100 percent of the cost of infrastructure for car and trucks, such as travel lanes and markings. But if the state’s analysis determines a sidewalk, side path, or bike lane should be added and there’s community support for it, then the local community is required to cover 20 percent of the cost.

This results in an inequitable distribution of walking and biking infrastructure and many missed opportunities to add critical safety infrastructure.

Learn more about the bill in a one-page fact sheet.

 

Image Credit: Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune