Details of Illinois' $45 Billion Infrastructure Investment Plan

The Chicago Tribune combed a pile of legislation to produce an authoritative database of projects funded in an historic spending spree by Illinois.

1 minute read

October 20, 2019, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Illinois Highway 90

NBA2030 / Wikimedia Commons

Jonathon Berlin, Kori Rumore, and Meghan Kelly share a new database created by the Chicago Tribune that allows residents to search and discover where projects are happening as part of the state's $45 billion capital investment plan.

The capital investment plan has been credited as the state’s first major public works program in a decade. Given that historical significance, this article breaks down several different ways of understanding the plan, form its sources of funding, to the kinds of projects that will be funded, to how decisions about funding are made.

The star of the show, however, is the list produce by the Tribune analysis of the two bills that enabled the plan, HB62 [pdf] and SB262 [pdf]: 3,000 projects in all. There's also one big caveat:

Adding up all the projects below only gets to about $8.7 billion which is a lot less than the plan's total $45 billion in spending. That's because of a few reasons. 1. The list below only includes allocations where a specific project or town was listed. There are huge piles of funds that have not yet been decided or detailed by the state. And, 2. Some funds will be allocated in the years to come, after all, it's a 6-year plan.

Friday, October 18, 2019 in Chicago Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

July 2, 2025 - Mother Jones

Close-up of park ranger in green jacket and khaki hat looking out at Bryce Canyon National Park red rock formations.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions

Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

February 18, 2025 - National Parks Traveler

Paved walking path next to canal in The Woodlands, Texas with office buildings in background.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50

A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

February 19, 2025 - Greg Flisram

Screenshot of shade map of Buffalo, New York with legend.

Test News Post 1

This is a summary

0 seconds ago - 2TheAdvocate.com

Red 1972 Ford Pinto with black racing stripes on display with man sitting in driver's seat.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto

The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

18 minutes ago - Mother Jones

test alt text

Test News Headline 46

Test for the image on the front page.

March 5 - Cleantech blog