The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is a state agency in charge of state-maintained public roadways of the U.S. state of Illinois. In addition, IDOT provides funding for rail, public transit and airport projects and administers fuel tax and federal funding to local jurisdictions in the state. The Secretary of Transportation reports to the Governor of Illinois. IDOT is headquartered in unincorporated Sangamon County, located near the state capital, Springfield. 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 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 Office of Chief Counsel administers tort 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.