Election Results 2016: Safe Roads Amendment Approved in Illinois

The 'Safe Roads Amendment' was approved by Illinois voters in a landslide Tuesday night, according to the Chicago Sun-Times and other reports.

Original story, published on Nov. 6, 2016:

Voters across Illinois will decide if tax money related to transportation will be earmarked for transportation needs.

Near the top of the ballot will be a proposed Illinois Constitutional Amendment which, if passed, “provides that no moneys derived from taxes, fees, excises, or license taxes, relating to registration, titles, operation, or use of vehicles or public highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit, intercity passenger rail, ports, or airports, or motor fuels, including bond proceeds, shall be expended for other than costs of administering laws related to vehicles and transportation, costs for construction, reconstruction, maintenance, repair, and betterment of public highways, roads, streets, bridges, mass transit, intercity passenger rail, ports, airports, or other forms of transportation, and other statutory highway purposes, including the State or local share to match federal aid highway funds.”

The amendment, which passed through the Illinois General Assembly with bipartisan support, is known as the Illinois Transportation Taxes and Fees Lockbox Amendment. Supporters refer to it is the Safe Roads Amendment, according to Chicago Magazine.

A “Yes” vote means lawmakers would be prohibited from using the funds in question for anything other than transportation. Voting “No” would keep the funding open for other purposes.

The fees associated with the lock box that would be created would be those gathered from registration fees, parking permits and other fees related to the ownership of a car. They would need to be used for programs related to funding transportation improvements like fixing potholes and adding public transportation options.

Chicago Magazine reports a common critique of the amendment is that transportation funding would be protected while other state programs like education and social services would remain vulnerable to budget cuts.

All organized efforts have been in favor of passing the law.