The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is a state agency in charge of state-maintained public roadways of the
U.S. state of
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
. In addition, IDOT provides funding for rail, public transit and airport projects and administers
fuel tax and federal funding to local
jurisdiction
Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United States, areas of jurisdiction apply to local, state, and federal levels.
Jur ...
s in the state. The Secretary of Transportation reports to the
Governor of Illinois
The governor of Illinois is the head of government of Illinois, and the various agencies and departments over which the officer has jurisdiction, as prescribed in the state constitution. It is a directly elected position, votes being cast by p ...
. IDOT is headquartered in
unincorporated Sangamon County, located near the state capital,
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
. In addition, the IDOT Division of Highways has offices in nine locations throughout the state.
The mission of IDOT is to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for
Illinois
Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...
in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity and demonstrate respect for the environment.
Organization
As of February 2009, the Illinois Department of Transportation was divided into the following offices and divisions:
Offices
*The Office of Business and Workforce Diversity oversees the implementation of directives, policies and strategies for departmental business diversity efforts.
*The Office of Chief Counsel provides legal counsel to the department on policy issues and proposed actions affecting any of its operating divisions or staff offices. The Office is responsible for the prosecution and defense of all litigation involving the department in cooperation with the
Illinois Attorney General
The Illinois Attorney General is the highest legal officer of the state of Illinois in the United States. Originally an appointed office, it is now an office filled by statewide election. Based in Chicago and Springfield, Illinois, the attorney ...
. The Office of Chief Counsel administers
tort
A tort is a civil wrong that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person who commits the tortious act. Tort law can be contrasted with criminal law, which deals with criminal wrongs that are punishable ...
liability claims, property damage claims and uncollectable receivables as well as processes lien and bond claims against contractors. The Office coordinates the purchase and service of all insurance policies and administers the department's self-insurance program.
*The Office of Finance and Administration develops and administers the department's budget; manages the department's personnel system; provides accounting and auditing functions; provides centralized business services functions and facilities management; and provides management information capabilities.
*The Office of Communications was created in 2009 by combining the Office of Governmental Affairs and the Office of External Affairs. The Office of Communications develops and implements the department's public affairs policies, plans and programs. This includes developing the department's policy goals and positions; prepares and implements state legislative programs and strategies; analyzes issues of special interest to the Secretary; and represents the Secretary before various state and national organizations. Its primary objectives are to ensure adequate information toward increasing public involvement in the transportation planning process; assist the news media in the coverage of agency activities; increase the department's sensitivity to its public and interpret public opinion so that agency programs and regulations will be realistic and acceptable; and to mobilize support for the department and its programs.
*The Office of Planning and Programming develops programs to improve the state transportation system. This includes working with metropolitan planning organizations in ten of the state's urbanized areas to develop programs relating to urban transportation; coordinating a surveillance program to monitor the physical condition of the transportation system, the level of service provided and the need for improvement; evaluating proposals for major investments in the transportation system and overall benefits to be gained. The Office ensures the continuation of state rail services where the potential for efficiency and economy are most favorable and minimizing the expenditure of public funds for rail subsidies. The Office works closely with the
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), which serves as a forum for transportation decision making by local elected officials in northeastern Illinois. The Office develops and implements Federal legislative initiatives as well as the initiation and coordination of policy statement and papers which serve as guides for departmental actions on a broad spectrum of transportation issues.
*The Office of Quality Compliance and Review independently tests the department's internal control systems to further ensure to the Secretary and to the public the adequacy of the policies, regulations and procedures and to recommend improvements.
Divisions
*The Division of Aeronautics coordinates and implements programs concerning air safety, airport construction and other aeronautical related issues in Illinois.
*The Division of Highways develops, maintains and operates the state highway system. The central bureaus of the Division developing policies, procedures, standards and guidelines to accomplish the department's highway system improvement objectives. The central bureaus monitor the nine district programs to ensure statewide uniformity of policy interpretation and compliance and to ensure program coordination with federal, state and local agencies.
![IDOT districts](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/IDOT_districts.png)
* District Offices
** District 1 –
Schaumburg
Schaumburg is a district (''Landkreis'') of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by (clockwise from the north) the districts of Nienburg, Hanover and Hamelin-Pyrmont, and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (districts of Lippe and Minden-Lübbe ...
(covers
Chicago Metropolitan Area
The Chicago metropolitan area, also colloquially referred to as Chicagoland, is a metropolitan area in the Midwestern United States. Encompassing 10,286 sq mi (28,120 km2), the metropolitan area includes the city of Chicago, its suburbs and hi ...
)
** District 2 –
Dixon
** District 3 –
Ottawa
Ottawa (, ; Canadian French: ) is the capital city of Canada. It is located at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River in the southern portion of the province of Ontario. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the core ...
** District 4 –
Peoria
** District 5 –
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
** District 6 –
Springfield
Springfield may refer to:
* Springfield (toponym), the place name in general
Places and locations Australia
* Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast)
* Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council)
* Springfield, Queenslan ...
** District 7 –
Effingham
** District 8 –
Collinsville (covers
St. Louis Metropolitan Area)
** District 9 –
Carbondale
*The Division of Public and Intermodal Transportation promotes and assures safe and efficient mass transportation systems and services in the State of Illinois by developing and recommending policies and programs; developing, implementing and administering operating, capital and technical program projects and grants; and coordinating and participating in local and statewide planning and programming activities.
*The Division of Traffic Safety providing Illinois motorists, cyclists and pedestrians with a safe environment by promoting the reduction of traffic fatalities, injuries and accidents. The Division develops and promulgates regulations in areas of accident reporting, hazardous materials transportation, vehicle inspection, safety responsibility, cycle rider training and highway safety Federal Section 402, 408 and 410 Grants.
History
The Illinois Department of Transportation was created by the 77th
Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in 181 ...
in January 1972. The department absorbed the functions of the former Department of Public Works and Buildings, acquired some planning and safety inspection functions of other state agencies, and received responsibility for state assistance to local mass transportation agencies such as the Chicago-area
Regional Transportation Authority, which was in the process of being formed at this time. The Division of Aeronautics was added in 1973.
On June 18, 2005, IDOT became the first state transportation agency to achieve
ISO 9001:2000 certification for 23 key processes located in the Central Administrative Office and regional District Six. On July 6, 2006, that certification was expanded to encompass all processes involved in the planning, design, and construction of road and bridge improvements, maintenance of roads and bridges, and administrative oversight in the Central Administrative Office and District Six.
In the spring of 2014, it was reported that IDOT had engaged in
patronage
Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, arts patronage refers to the support that kings, popes, and the wealthy have provided to artists su ...
hiring of numerous staff assistants – Ann Schneider resigning following this scandal. Schneider claimed that the improper hires were "recommended to me or my staff by the governor’s office," specifically Chief of Staff Jack Lavin.
Notes and references
External links
IDOT WebsiteIDOT on FacebookIDOT on TwitterIDOT on YouTubeIllinois Transportation History
{{authority control
Transportation
Transport (in British English), or transportation (in American English), is the intentional movement of humans, animals, and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, land (rail and road), water, cable, pipeline, ...
Transportation in Illinois
State departments of transportation of the United States
1972 establishments in Illinois