Published: May 09, 2008 11:08 pm      

IDOT relocating traffic safety division office

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Staff Report

SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Transportation will be relocating its division of traffic safety to Southern Illinois, according to IDOT Secretary Milt Sees.

The move will save the state potentially millions of dollars by leaving an expensive location in Springfield for a more cost effective one downstate, information from Sees states. In addition, the region would benefit economically from being home to a division of a major agency.

The division of traffic safety has been housed in a building at 3215 Executive Park Drive in Springfield since the Thompson administration. The current lease was entered into in 2002 and expired in July 2007. The cost of the building in 2007 was $1.6 million and increased to $1.72 million in fiscal year 2008.

“The Executive Park Drive location in Springfield costs approximately the same per square foot to operate annually as IDOT’s office at 300 W. Adams in downtown Chicago,” information from Sees states.

The division employs 148 full-time employees. All full-time employees will be offered the opportunity to relocate to Southern Illinois with IDOT covering the cost of their relocation expenses.