06.19.09

Durbin Announces $46 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Metra Repairs

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded Metra a $46,603,124 grant through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Today’s funding will be used for bridge rehabilitation and reconstruction specifically on the Electric District and the Union Pacific North Line. The funding will also be used for the replacement of fiber optic cable on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe commuter rail line.

 

“Today’s funding will help reduce delays by improving bridges that have been badly in need of repair for a long time,” said Durbin. “Spending Recovery Act funds on important Metra projects will accomplish two important goals at once – first, this will provide about 350 good paying jobs here in Illinois and second, it will encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint by using public transit.”