Gov Quinn Reverses Blagojevich Again, and Decides to Keep IDOT Traffic Safety in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD – March 13, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn announced that he will keep the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Division of Traffic Safety in Springfield.

“I am pleased to announce the employees of the Division of Traffic Safety will not have their lives disrupted and that these jobs will stay here in the capital city,” said Governor Quinn. “Relocating the Division of Traffic Safety would have had a detrimental impact on central Illinois’ economy and the operations of the division.”

Last May, then-Governor Rod Blagojevich announced he was going to move the IDOT Division of Traffic Safety from Springfield to southern Illinois. Blagojevich’s proposal would have forced about 140 employees to relocate to Harrisburg or give-up their positions with the Division of Traffic Safety.

Following the guidelines set forth in the State Facilities Closure Act, the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) held a public hearing in July and heard six hours worth of testimony from those for and against the transfer of the division. COGFA voted unanimously (12-0) in August 2008 to reject the recommendation to relocate the Division of Traffic Safety to Harrisburg.

The Division of Traffic Safety is currently housed at 3215 Executive Park Drive in Springfield.

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