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IRTBA EV Leadership
The Illinois Road and Transportation Builders Association Planning and Design Division’s Board of Directors hosted a comprehensive symposium to promote best practices in the design and implementation of electric vehicle charging options in Illinois. The group also reviewed state-of-the-art electric vehicle options that may be employed in the State of Illinois.
Deputy Governor Bria Scudder, CDOT Deputy Commissioner Anne Zhang, Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse, and State of Illinois EV Officer Megha Lakhchaura (pictured above) accompanied this groundbreaking fact-finding mission.
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Sweden is a leader in EV charging deployment, and local governmental and private sector leaders had a series of meetings with members of the Illinois delegation. The group toured groundbreaking EV facilities, reviewed electric vehicle innovations, and engaged in robust round table discussions. Those discussion topics included conductive, inductive, and catenary technologies tested in Sweden, procurement process/documentation, pilot results/challenges from ERS companies, cost drivers, charging/payment system for road users, power and grid requirements, electric vehicle capacities and limitations, and governmental policy considerations. Among the many highlights from the trip, the group toured one of the world’s few inductive charging roads in Visby, Sweden.
The IRTBA proudly stands as a leader in innovation and best practices impacting the transportation industry and will produce a white paper on EV charging best practices in the near future to share with members and transportation policymakers.
Thanks to our Swedish partners: Business Sweden, Vattenfall, Swedish Transport Administration, Swedish Energy Agency, Ministry of Infrastructure, City of Stockholm, Skanska, Volvo Construction Equipment, Electreon, Volta and Candela. The IRTBA also extends its gratitude to the IRTBA Planning and Design Division and government leaders who rose to the challenge of investigating what’s next for Illinois.
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Request: Equipment Rental Data for New Online System
At industry’s request, the Illinois Department of Transportation plans to establish an online system for determination of equipment rental rates. IDOT requests industry’s assistance in providing highway construction equipment data. While the team is interested in data for standard pieces of equipment (motor graders, pavers, rollers, trucks, etc.) the team especially needs data on non-standard equipment that is used regularly.
Please review the Equipment Data Request document and complete the Equipment List Spreadsheet for each piece of equipment that a rental rate may be needed. Click here to upload the completed spreadsheet by October 31, 2023. Questions? Contact the research team.
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Last Call for Action: Survey Worker Survey
At the request of the Operating Engineers and Laborers, the Illinois Department of Labor determined that survey workers and survey foremen working on the site of Illinois public works projects in Cook, Lake, Will, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Boone, Grundy, and McHenry counties must be paid the prevailing wage rate. This decision will not go into effect until the IDOL holds a rate hearing, issues an order setting the applicable prevailing wage rate, and publishes the rate on its website. The IDOL has scheduled a rate hearing beginning November 6, 2023.
If you employ survey workers or foremen on public works projects in the above-listed counties, please complete the wage survey with documentation supporting your answer and email to attorney Matt Robinson by September 22, 2023. Without evidence to rebut the union’s assertions and evidence, the IDOL will set the prevailing wage rates based on the union’s contract rates.
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Last Call for Nominations: IDOT Transportation Planner of the Year
IDOT is seeking nominations for the inaugural Transportation Planner of the Year Award. This inaugural IDOT award recognizes an Illinois public-agency individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of transportation planning. Click here to submit your nomination by September 17th, 2023. Award finalists will be recognized at the 38th Annual Fall Planning Conference, October 2-4. Questions? Please contact Janel Veile or Brandon Geber.
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Register Today for State of the Industry, Part One
Register now for the second General Membership Meeting of 2023, The State of the Industry Part One, on Thursday, September 28 at 5:00 PM at the Westin Chicago Lombard. As always, the meeting will feature transportation agency leaders from Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Tollway, Chicago Transit Authority, Cook County DOTH, DuPage County DOT, Kane County DOT and McHenry County DOT who will preview their programs for the 2024 year. A networking reception follows the presentations.
Don't miss one of the most talked about and exciting membership meetings of the year! Interested in sponsoring? Please contact Molly Stratman. And, please make sure to save the date for State of the Industry, Part Two on Oct. 26.
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Thanks to Our Generous General Membership Meeting Sponsors! | |
Thanks to our generous golf sponsors! | |
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IRTBA Upcoming Committee Meetings
Sep. 19, 8:00-9:00, P&D Board of Directors (Lemont)
Sep. 20, 1:30-2:30, Equal Opportunity
Sep. 29, 10:00-11:00, Kane County Co-op (St. Charles)
Sep. 29, 1:30-3:00, Tollway Co-op (virtual) Note: new date and time
Sept 28, 9:30-10:30, Finance (teleconference)
Oct. 4, 7:00-9:00, IRTBA Board of Directors
Oct. 5, 10:00-11:30, IDOT Policy (Springfield)
Oct. 16, 10:00-11:00, Public Information
Oct. 16, 2:00-3:00, Tollway Policy (Tollway)
Oct. 17, 8:30-10:30, IDOT District One Forum (Schaumburg)
Oct .19, 8:00-9:00, Training and Education
Oct. 20, 1:30-2:00, Design Construction Review
Oct. 31, 8:00-9:00, Labor Relations
Meetings are held at the IRTBA office, 500 Park Blvd., Suite 1250, Itasca, IL unless noted otherwise - please watch your committee emails and contact Avani Shah with questions.
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IRTBA Advocacy in Action
IRTBA Board Chair Julie Wrightsman represented the transportation industry at a meeting last week that included Federal Transit Administrator Nuria Fernandez, CTA President Dorval Carver and IDOT Secretary Omer Osman. Wrightsman continued IRTBA leadership in advocating for significant improvements to the I-290/Blue Line Corridor. Fernandez and Governor J.B. Pritzker later announced that the FTA is awarding $2 billion to the CTA for the Red Line Extension project.
Next week IRTBA President Mike Sturino is scheduled to advocate for I-290 improvements with FHWA Administrator Shailen Bhatt together with state and local transportation leaders.
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Make Your IRTBA Committee Requests
IRTBA has earned a well-deserved reputation as the voice of the transportation design and construction industry in Illinois - largely through the work of its talented members on committees. Let's keep it going!
Make the most of your membership by serving on an IRTBA Committee in 2024. With almost 40 committees and subcommittees to choose from, you will have unparalleled opportunities to network with fellow members and to meet with agency heads, provide input on important policy decisions, agency specifications, best practices, and more – all to advance the industry and ultimately your own businesses.
Requests for 2024 IRTBA Committees will be accepted through close of business on Friday, September 29, 2023. Questions? Contact Member Advocate Avani Shah at (630) 626-3577 or avani@irtba.org with questions or for help over the phone. We regret that we cannot enter committee requests for members.
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Welcome New Member: Clausen Structures, Inc.
Clausen Structures, Inc. specializes in concrete reinforcement, structural steel and precast erect. Employing the industry's most experienced and talented iron workers, estimators, project managers and lift directors, safety is their top priority! Visit their website to learn more.
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Welcome New Member: Industrial Fence Inc.
Industrial Fence, Inc. is a veteran owned company and works hard to be the best in the fencing, guardrail, and access control industry. They are dedicated to protecting the community by implementing the latest technology and engineering to provide the highest quality solutions for safety and security. Visit their website to learn more.
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IRTBA On-Demand
Members, did you miss a meeting or webinar from either the current or last year? Log in to your IRTBA account to access Road Builder University on-demand here. General Membership Meeting slides and other archives are available here.
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