IDOT discusses long-term plan for state
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<p align="justify">Illinois Department of Transportation officials discussed key policies and goals for a new 20-year plan during a meeting Thursday at the Central Illinois Regional Airport.
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<p align="justify">"The plan sets a strategy for how the state and how IDOT is going to spend the transportation funding the General Assembly makes available to us," said Dick Smith, director of the office of planning and programming at IDOT.
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<p align="justify">Smith said legislators require the state transportation plan to be updated every two years.
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<p align="justify">IDOT held several meetings throughout the state this week to unveil and discuss the proposed plan, which is to be completed by the end of the year.
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<p align="justify">The proposed 2007 plan outlines nine policies that are to be implemented within 20 years:
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<p align="justify">Target transportation investments to support business and employment growth and enhance the Illinois economy.
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<p align="justify">Provide a transportation system that offers a high degree of mobility, accessibility and reliability.
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<p align="justify">Preserve and manage the existing transportation system.
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<p align="justify">Reduce congestion, optimize service and operation efficiency, develop intermodal connections and utilize transportation technology advances.
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<p align="justify">Ensure a compatible interface to the transportation system with environmental, social and energy considerations.
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<p align="justify">Follow a comprehensive transportation planning process and promote coordination among public and private sector transportation systems.
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<p align="justify">Promote stable funding for the public component of the transportation system.
<p align="justify">Improve transportation safety.
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<p align="justify">Provide a secure transportation infrastructure in conjunction with the Office of Homeland Security Illinois Terrorism Task Force.
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<p align="justify">In June, IDOT submitted amended special reports to update the 2005 plan.
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<p align="justify">The June updates addressed issues such as global competitiveness, environment, and security as it relates to transportation, said Ron Shimizu, an IDOT consultant with PB Americas Inc.
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<p align="justify">Specifics about how the policies and goals will be implemented will be addressed in additional special reports, Shimizu said.
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<p align="justify">To give feedback on the state transportation plan and to get more information, go to http://www.illinoistransportationplan.org.
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<p align="center">Fitzgerald M. Doubet can be reached at 686-3041 or state@pjstar.com.
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