Op-Ed: Engineering Returns with Illinois' Robust Highway Investment

PEORIA -- Illinois’ economic success has historically relied on its major engineering accomplishments—from the Illinois and Michigan Canal to the first Mississippi River bridges to railroads and the Interstate system. With this year’s announcement of a historic Multi-Year Program from the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois has proven that it is again ready to invest in the future.

The historic announcement from the Illinois Department of Transportation and Governor Pritzker is exactly the kind of investment we need to keep Illinois economically competitive and attract a talented workforce for the engineering firms I represent.

In the years prior to Rebuild Illinois, chronic underfunding stressed our aging infrastructure and left engineering firms with little work. Many of the firms I represent, particularly the smaller firms owned by women and people of color, were facing the tough decision of whether to move their headquarters out of Illinois to states that were investing in their infrastructure.

Just as engineering firms were facing the tough decision to leave Illinois, prior to Rebuild Illinois, many Illinois engineering students were forced out of Illinois after graduating because other states were able to provide them with greater employment opportunities. Despite being the home to one of the best engineering schools in the country, Illinois parents watched as their children took jobs out of state and wondered if they would ever return.

Thankfully, Rebuild Illinois, under the guidance of Secretary Osman and Governor Pritzker is changing that.

Since 2019, engineering investments in Illinois have more than doubled. In FY19, the year prior to Rebuild Illinois, the department of transportation spent around $579 million on engineering. A year later, after Rebuild Illinois passed, that number jumped to over $2 billion. Over the past four years, the Illinois Department of Transportation has been working with the engineers of Illinois to begin planning for the large projects that our transportation system desperately needs. With major projects in the I-80 corridor being added to this year’s Multi-Year Program, as well as major bridge repairs and rebuilds in the Metro-East and around the state, engineering firms around Illinois are confident that there is plenty of work yet to come.

Smaller firms are now able to make plans for the future in Illinois. With their roots firmly planted in communities across the state, smaller firms are helping to revitalize local communities. Just as importantly, they are contributing their expertise to ensuring infrastructure improvements lead to the greatest efficiency and safety. Engineering expertise will help reduce commute times, ensure business logistics operate smoothly, and continue to safeguard the traveling public.

At the same time, all firms, big and small, are hiring. Recent graduates of engineering programs in Illinois have their pick of positions in Illinois, whether they want to make their home in Chicago or one of our suburban or downstate communities. In fact, engineering graduates are in such high demand, that the Illinois Department of Transportation will provide new hires with student loan assistance if they choose to begin their careers in public service. This opportunity is particularly important as we work to bring more people into the engineering workforce, regardless of their economic background.

Rebuild Illinois has revitalized engineering in Illinois. The historic investment announced in this year’s Multi-Year Program is further proof that Illinois is the place to be for engineering students and firms alike. It’s the investment that Illinois needed to continue to attract the best and brightest people from around the world in order make Illinois’ transportation infrastructure the safest, smoothest, and best in the country.

Kevin Artl

Kevin Artl is the President and CEO of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Illinois.

Central Illinois