On November 8, 2016, we have a chance to protect transportation funding once and for all.

Half of Illinois’ roads and 4,200 of our bridges are in poor condition. It’s unsafe and puts Illinois at risk for tragedies like the bridge collapses that occurred in Minnesota and Indiana. The danger is real, and it’s unacceptable.

The Safe Roads Constitution Amendment requires that money taken in from transportation revenue sources be spent for transportation purposes. It prohibits the General Assembly or a unit of local government from using, diverting, or transferring moneys raised from these transportation revenue sources for non-transportation purposes.

Illinoisans pay motor fuel taxes, fees for vehicle registrations and license plates, and other transportation related taxes and fees with the expectation that these monies will be spent to maintain, repair, and build roads, highways, mass transit, and other transportation systems in their communities. Historically, the State and units of local government have diverted portions of monies raised from these revenue sources for other non-transportation purposes. Over the last decade, the state has diverted more than $6 billion away from transportation projects that should have been spent on them.