Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to roll back a Department of Transportation rule requiring the governors of Wisconsin and Indiana to approve transportation projects in the Greater Chicago area. The bill passed the House by a vote of 417-3 and is now pending the president's approval.
Duckworth argues that the rule targeted by her legislation threatens to slow project delivery and impede job creation by delaying infrastructure improvements, and that her legislation would allow the state’s Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) to plan and implement such projects without excessive interference from the federal government.
“What’s good for Illinois is good for the nation, especially when it comes to modernizing and making our transportation infrastructure more efficient,” Duckworth said in a statement. “We cannot afford to disrupt or delay important modernization and efficiency processes that are already facilitating innovative initiatives, such as the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program. My bipartisan legislation will help cut red tape and prevent delays that hurt not only our state’s economy, but our entire nation’s economy as well.”
The bill is cosponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.). Earlier this year, Duckworth highlighted the issue addressed by her bill while questioning Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.
“As the current rule stands, I am concerned that it would fundamentally change the long-established cooperative working relationships between MPOs in our states and set back efforts to successfully coordinate transportation planning and investments in our region,” Durbin said in a statement. “I'm proud to work with Senator Duckworth on this bill that supports Illinois MPOs and the important work they do to ensure proper coordination of the comprehensive planning development, funding and selection of transportation projects in Illinois and across the country.”
“The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) Coordination Rule is a prime example of a regulation in search of a problem,” Young said. “Hoosier MPOs have a reputation of working very well with sister organizations. This is especially true in Northwest Indiana where Hoosier MPOs coordinate with sister organizations across state lines. The MPO rule will prevent the local organizations that already have a strong working relationship from efficiently representing their local communities. I look forward to working with Senator Duckworth to ensure that this misguided rule is overturned.”
“Metropolitan planning organizations across the state of West Virginia have already been successful coordinating amongst themselves and with counterparts across state lines,” Capito said. “This legislation would protect their work by rolling back a harmful rule that would undermine and reduce the voice of MPOs who conduct the transportation planning best suited to their communities, especially in rural areas.”
The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) have endorsed Senator Duckworth’s legislation.