Jeffrey B. Bell is a Senior Policy Advisor for TG&A. Mr. Bell is a seasoned multi-modal transportation policy professional with nearly 33 years of experience accrued with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Mr. Bell completed his career at IDOT as Bureau Chief of Federal Affairs in the Office of Legislative Affairs.
Mr. Bell began his career in 1986 with IDOT as a budget analyst, wherein he acquired a suite of career-based foundational skills, e.g. budgeting, critical writing, systems analysis and advanced computer skills. In 1991, Mr. Bell was promoted to Section Chief in the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to handle the broad spectrum of issues pertaining to state/federal legislative issues.
In 1993, Mr. Bell began to dedicate his expertise solely to the development of federal transportation policy for IDOT. Through interactions with the Secretary of IDOT, the Governor’s Office, members of Illinois’ Congressional Delegation and transportation stakeholders, he assembled IDOT’s annual federal agenda. During his career, Mr. Bell developed transportation policy for the consideration of nine IDOT Secretaries across the modes of highways/highway safety, public transportation, passenger/freight rail, aviation, and waterways. He worked on surface transportation authorizing and appropriation bills covering ISTEA, TEA-21, SAFETEA-LU, MAP-21 and the FAST Act. Upon the enactment of MAP-21, IDOT had achieved its goal to secure a 3.67 percent share of federal formula funding – IDOT’s highest share since 1991. In addition, he led IDOT’s efforts regarding major discretionary applications for funding through programs such as INFRA and BUILD (formerly TIGER).
Mr. Bell graduated from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Illinois in 1984, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Flight/Management - accumulating a commercial pilot license, and multi-engine/flight instructor ratings. He earned a Master’s in Public Administration degree in 1995 from the University of Illinois at Springfield, Illinois.
