ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. (AP) — Illinois transportation planners are awaiting details of how they could use a potential multi-million windfall for the state.
A spending bill approved by Congress in late 2015 contains a clause allowing unused transportation earmarks to be dispensed to states for related work. The earmarks must be more than 10 years old and less than 10 percent of the total must have been spent or obligated.
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has determined that the total amount of cash available could be nearly $2.2 billion. The Daily Herald reports that Illinois could receive $84.7 million.
The transportation association’s chief operating officer says restrictions will be placed on how and where states can spend the money.
