[9:12] All right, we're ready when you are. Well, thank you. Well, good morning, and welcome to the Strategic Planning Committee meeting for the May 16, 2024. Christy, will you please call the roll? Director Goldas, here. Director McConaghey, here. Director Speedy. Here. Here. Here. Here, here, here, here, here. Here. Here. Here, here, here. Thank you, Christy. So, our first order of business today is public comment. During this portion of the meeting, members of the public are invited to address the committee.

[9:40] We ask that speakers please limit their remarks to three minutes.

[9:43] Is there anyone present who wishes to address the committee at this time?

[9:49] Thank you. Let's move on to section four of the agenda.

[9:53] Well, good morning again and thank you to the board, our tollway leadership and staff

[9:57] for being here this morning.

[10:00] Please to recognize this inaugural meeting of the recently formed strategic planning committee or SBC. Coming out of our board retreat, we established this ad hoc committee to help provide the policy direction and support needed in developing both our strategic plan and our capital planning efforts. And I think, you know, as we think about the important work that we collectively do here at the agency, but as a board and leadership team, when you think about offering our next strategic plan and our next capital plan,

[10:29] and we will certainly put those right at the top of the list,

[10:32] but I know we're up for the challenge.

[10:35] I personally have had the opportunity

[10:36] to hear from our stakeholders,

[10:38] participated in some of the outreach efforts,

[10:41] and attend the inaugural stakeholder advisory team meeting,

[10:44] which I know we will learn about shortly.

[10:46] Thank you to those of you who have been able

[10:48] to participate in some of those engagements,

[10:51] and what I was really impressed by with our SAT team,

[10:55] and remember that's, we don't have

[10:57] and 43 stakeholders representing a broad and diverse

[11:00] array of industry segments from labor to business

[11:03] to the environment to workforce.

[11:05] And the recurring theme at the end of that first meeting

[11:07] was thank you.

[11:08] Thank you for executing this process.

[11:10] Thank you for getting us to see the table.

[11:12] Thank you for giving us a voice in this next capital plan.

[11:15] And so that was great to hear.

[11:16] So I want to commend the totally staff

[11:18] for their excellent work and issuing these important

[11:20] discussions with our stakeholders and executive director

[11:23] Rouse for her enthusiastic commitment

[11:25] it's developing a capital plan that thinks bigger, bolder, and beyond the current system.

[11:30] I've told Cassandra this is like a second job.

[11:32] We'll be able to do this in a minute, and so thank you, Cassandra, for your leadership

[11:36] on this.

[11:37] With that, I have no additional items this morning, so I'd like to turn it over to our executive

[11:41] director, who will give the committee an update on where we are in this process, Cassandra.

[11:45] Thank you so much, director Paddy.

[11:47] So, as you know, we are in the 13th year of our 16th year, we're going to do a capital

[11:51] program.

[11:52] 83% of our program has been committed and 75% of that work is in place.

[12:00] And so with that obviously it's time for our agencies to think about what is next.

[12:05] And so additionally it's important for the agency to update not only our capital plan

[12:11] but what's next but also the agency's strategic plan.

[12:14] So at the center of our next strategic and capital plan is stakeholder engagement which

[12:19] is a really critical piece of the what's next.

[12:22] This input, you will go to help shape the agency's vision

[12:26] and goals and values for our agency

[12:29] to reflect our employees, our community, and our drivers.

[12:33] Toa staff, as mentioned, has already been at heart of work

[12:36] since last year, meeting with stakeholder groups

[12:38] from the counties, the 12 counties that we serve,

[12:41] unless the officials, local mayors,

[12:44] transportation and engineering organizations,

[12:45] Council of Governments and the general public to listen to what they want in the next

[12:51] capital plan and how they envision the future of the tollway.

[12:56] So we really appreciate the board's support, commitment to this shared goal of delivering

[13:03] the next capital and strategic plans and we look forward to our productive and comprehensive

[13:08] planning process.

[13:10] So today, I will provide the committee with the overview of our efforts and our progress

[13:15] to date.

[13:17] I'm also excited really to kick off this effort with the Strategic Planning Committee.

[13:23] Really to share in our methodology and our process.

[13:26] Again, the chairman on the end of last year, you know, picked off the Strategic Planning

[13:30] efforts.

[13:31] And today, I will share an overview of the planning efforts, Karen, who's actually for

[13:36] planning will discuss our ongoing outreach and providing update on the workflows that are the other

[13:43] way at the agency with our external stakeholders. So in this time I'd like to turn our attention to

[13:49] the presentation. So I'm glad to when we talk about the overview as we've mentioned we have both

[14:00] the strategic planning effort going on from an agency standpoint and then we also have the parallel

[14:07] plan. Both of these work streams will come together and really help provide us with

[14:13] a planning framework to evaluate and execute on our external and strategic goals.

[14:21] Next slide please.

[14:25] So as noted on the prior slide, the agency is utilizing our strategic

[14:29] and our capital planning process that help really envision the future of the agency. The internal

[14:34] Strategic Plan is a guide that provides really a fresh look at the agency's

[14:39] mission, vision, and guiding values of its own way. The Strategic Plan in the

[14:44] process will help us inform our operational goals and ensure that we are

[14:48] developing, delivering, and tracking our progress into the future. Our

[14:53] Strategic Plan for the agency will encompass a vision for the agency as

[14:58] I respect your bar employees.

[15:00] And it helps serve as our north star as we deliver for our customers and communities. And simultaneously, as I mentioned, we are delivering the capital plan. That will serve really as a group, group grant for investing in our system, identifying the projects and initiatives that will help us reach our goals. The capital planning process brings together again our stakeholders, our partners and communities to help us envision the future while addressing the infrastructure priorities for the region.

[15:30] Next slide please.

[15:34] The government fiscal, really kicked off the agency capital planning efforts by identifying

[15:40] four guiding principles for the tone way to incorporate in the plan.

[15:46] Those four guiding principles are innovation, diversity and inclusion, sustainability and

[15:54] economic, equitable economic development.

[15:58] So when we look at the four guiding principles,

[16:01] the personal innovation, we want to challenge to think

[16:04] about what do we mean by innovation.

[16:08] It is really identifying new and efficient ways

[16:11] of delivering infrastructure and services.

[16:13] And this includes considerations

[16:15] such as utilizing the technologies to improve our system,

[16:19] enhancing partnerships that also transform

[16:21] of solutions and approving access to communities.

[16:26] Diversity and inclusion is furthering our commitment

[16:29] to prioritize diverse inclusion opportunities.

[16:33] And this can include ensuring diverse participation

[16:36] in totally project and investment,

[16:38] enhanced opportunities for DPE participation,

[16:42] ensuring that totally is affordable and accessible

[16:44] to all drivers, and creating quality jobs

[16:47] through workforce development.

[16:50] Sustainability is considering both the financial and environmental sustainability of our system.

[16:56] We want the toe-way to the economic and sustainable long-term, where all climate advising impact on the environment.

[17:03] And this can be done through identifying the revenue stream, enhancing institutional transit, and protecting our environment.

[17:10] And the fourth guiding principle is equitable economic development.

[17:14] And this is really unlocking the opportunities in growth in our communities so that everyone

[17:19] can experience the economic benefits that the Toeway provides.

[17:24] This could be done by prioritizing and enabling equitable and inclusive growth, unlocking

[17:30] growth in disadvantaged communities, and providing new economic opportunities.

[17:36] Next slide.

[17:37] What other key component of this strategic planning after really is the identification

[17:43] of the stakeholder advisory team?

[17:46] So in a democratic commission, we've assembled a team of 43 leaders in organization.

[17:53] This team comprises representatives from labor, industry, advocacy groups, environmental

[18:00] organization, business and regional entities.

[18:03] And we have now with the State Code Advisory Team to really expand upon the four guiding

[18:10] principles that the Governor has provided us.

[18:14] This information that the State Code Advisory Team will help us inform our technical and

[18:21] our finance reviews.

[18:24] The track before you will be highlighting the members, the organizations that are involved

[18:29] in this process and participating in our sessions.

[18:33] Again, the first session was held in April

[18:35] and the next one is scheduled for early June.

[18:39] This echo advisory team will really break out

[18:42] the four principals and really help us understand

[18:45] what projects and programs we can deliver for the agency

[18:49] again to help drive economic growth within our region

[18:54] as well as ultimately delivering a capital plan.

[18:58] So at this time, I would like to invite Archie Goplan and Karen to provide an update regarding

[19:04] our ongoing outreach efforts and how does an outreach fit into a larger planning efforts

[19:09] for the strategic bank capital play?

[19:11] Great.

[19:12] Thank you, Cassandra.

[19:13] If we could go to the next slide.

[19:15] So as you can see on this slide, these are the many aspects of our ongoing outreach efforts,

[19:20] engaging with our stakeholders and our customers is really going to be the foundation of our

[19:25] capital plan development.

[19:26] We're utilizing this multi-tiered approach to ensure that we capture input and ideas from

[19:31] a wide array of our stakeholders throughout the region.

[19:35] Currently, we're focused on outreach endeavors that gather input and suggestions from our

[19:38] stakeholders, including elected officials, our county and agency partners, and communities

[19:43] along our system.

[19:45] This is going to be a continuous process, but we believe that by fostering open communication

[19:49] and collaboration with all of our stakeholders, that we're ensuring that we have a comprehensive

[19:54] of an inclusive approach to our capital planning and decision-making process.

[19:58] We can go to the next slide.

[20:01] So I think this is a good message point for us as the board is worth merchandising this a little bit. This goes way beyond the 43 SAT, right? I mean, anyone who wants a voice in this process should have it through these different opportunities. Thank you. So this slide provides an overview of the workflow that we have going on for both the strategic and capital planning processes. That purple section on the top is for our internal strategic

[20:29] plan development and as Cassandra mentioned this includes a review of our mission

[20:33] and vision. It establishes a guiding framework and will provide policy and

[20:38] operational recommendations for the board's review. The process will include the

[20:42] input of the board, the executive office and our staff. Below that shown in blue we

[20:47] have the capital planning process which is really going to build off the

[20:50] four guiding principles to develop value statements and recommendations. I'm in

[20:55] partnership with our stakeholder advisory team. The SAT's work along with the

[20:59] feedback that we've received throughout the outreach efforts that we are undertaking

[21:04] will serve as the framework that we build our next capital plan around.

[21:08] In addition, our capital planning efforts will also include a technical and financial

[21:12] review, and ultimately, all of these efforts will come together to result in the development

[21:17] of a multi-year capital plan.

[21:20] This committee will be evaluating a monitor in our progress throughout this process and

[21:24] recommendations for both the strategic and capital plans.

[21:27] We'll go from this committee to the full board for discussion review and adoption.

[21:33] So with that, I'm going to hand it back over to Cassandra to talk more about the committee.

[21:37] Thank you very much.

[21:39] So from a committee standpoint, the committee's next steps really are to oversee, again, the agency

[21:44] strategic capital and planning process and provide really good work.

[21:50] It's not true for the board to provide input into how the staff should advance the strategic priority.

[21:57] So we are looking to bring a lot of the important aspects of the next plan to this committee

[22:03] to really help shape again the policy direction that's needed for the agency.

[22:08] So at this time I will include and open the floor for any comments or questions.

[22:14] You

[22:19] know, sometimes it's kind of like, I call you an ex-go to an ex-go team, you have to

[22:26] have an air in here, but this is really great to do that we are thinking that some all

[22:33] stakeholders, our users, business groups, just call it round-to-and-param, make sure that it's

[22:49] I know that's something that's really processed, looks very well thought out and sounds like the steps that you're taking are really going to go on or a good reaction and build a great, great support from the community for what we're doing.

[23:05] One question I do have, what sort of, not a detailed sort of timeline, when do we expect that we will actually make any question?

[23:15] One of this, why don't we expect that this work, the full work, will actually be voting on the news group, okay?

[23:22] So at this time, from a time-long standpoint, we're looking at, you know, 2025, you know, possibly some word for middle of the year.

[23:33] And as far as an internal strategic plan, we hope to bring some of the deliverables related

[23:40] to that sometime in the October or November timeframe, but this year.

[23:45] So our idea is that we would hope that in the two-way overall strategic plan, we're

[23:51] really also going to help inform the agency capital plan.

[23:56] So the delivery of a draft agency plan, and toward the end of the year, we'll admit the

[24:01] to kind of just help us, you know, move through the capital, yes, planning process.

[24:07] And I think we're smartly leveraging a lot of outside agency industry expertise if you

[24:13] can talk just a little bit about some of the agency partners you're using to help us

[24:16] through this process.

[24:17] Absolutely.

[24:18] So we are using our internal partners that have worked with us from a internal strategic planning

[24:28] process.

[24:28] as we are utilizing WSB for the capital planning process.

[24:32] We are utilizing HNTV along with the Boston Consulting Group

[24:38] working together to really help bring in the industry experts

[24:41] on the practice leaders from their various organizations

[24:44] to really help provide us the best practice that we need

[24:49] to really shape what we're planning for the agency.

[24:52] Because of course, it's a very transformed

[24:54] a more transformational discussion, you know, especially with the leaders of Tuesday.

[25:00] We're representing across the four principles. We are really engaging on, you know, challenging, you know, topics that, you know, will help inform us as we look not just for the near term, five years from now, but really, of outward, you know, 15, 20, 30 years, you know, and how do we, you know, really plan for our transportation system that really, you know, provides for all.

[25:26] Yeah, I think the last comment I'll make is we've really been challenged. I think we're the administration with really think out of the box on this one.

[25:32] Right, it's really leveraging technology, right?

[25:36] Fiber optic technology, an infrastructure that's built

[25:38] throughout the solar system, as an example.

[25:41] So I just want to remind everyone, it's an exciting

[25:44] opportunity and work for the test.

[25:48] And I think we're going to look back

[25:49] and be really happy and proud of what we come up with.

[25:52] Any other questions for the board or any question?

[25:56] OK.

[25:57] Well, again, thank you, Cassandra, for your leadership on this.

[26:00] thank you Karen for the overview shared and thanks to all the staff. I think this time we'll skip on a

[26:05] finished business as this is our inaugural meeting of the committee and next is new businesses or any new

[26:10] business we wish to discuss.

[26:14] Hearing none, may I have a motion to adjourn? Is there a second?

[26:21] It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor signify by saying aye.

[26:25] Any opposed? Say nay. Motion passes. We're adjourned. Thank you.

Illinois Tollway Strategic Planning Committee

Agenda

Transcript