Governor Signs Illinois Ports Commission Act

As expected, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission Act on June 30, along with more than 150 other bills.

Robert Sinkler, water resources infrastructure director of the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District (TransPORT), Corn Belt Ports executive coordinating director, senior adviser at Dawson & Associates and former commander of the Rock Island Engineer District, called the act “the most consequential inland ports legislation in decades for the Upper Mississippi River and the Illinois Waterway.” The act, which became effective immediately upon signing, was passed unanimously by both chambers of the Illinois legislature (WJ, May 23).

The act creates the Illinois Waterway Ports Commission and gives it jurisdiction over the following counties and port districts, several of them  created within the past few years: the Seneca Regional Port District; the Ottawa Port District; the Illinois Valley Regional Port District; the Heart of Illinois Regional Port District; the Havana Port District; and Fulton, Mason, Tazewell, Peoria, Woodford, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, LaSalle and Grundy counties.

The act also provides that the commission shall:

(1) coordinate and synchronize common efforts and initiatives in the commission area to enhance the reporting and benefits of statistical data; (2) make recommendations to the governor, the General Assembly, Congress and federal agencies on regional issues that impact multimodal transportation, economic development, environmental sustainability and climate resiliency of the commission area;

(3) coordinate and synchronize common efforts and initiatives on the larger Illinois Waterway with the Mid-America Port Commission and the Joliet Regional Port District;

(4) coordinate and synchronize federal activities associated with the nonfederal sponsorship of the M-55 Illinois-Gulf Marine Highway; and

(5) request and assist in requesting funding for the commission area and the surrounding areas.