Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin Asks Metra to Clarify Position on New Safety System
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Metra Board of Directors to clarify their position on implementing Positive Train Control (PTC) - a communications-based system designed to prevent certain types of train accidents caused by human factors - and report back to the Illinois Congressional Delegation with recommendations. "Meeting the federal deadline of implementing PTC will be challenging. The Federal Railroad Administration has offered suggestions to … Continue Reading
December 05, 2013
Durbin Visits Macomb Transit Facility
[MACOMB, IL] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) visited the Macomb Transit Facility today to see firsthand how the new facility is functioning as a central hub for mass transit service in McDonough County. The facility was built from repurposed factory space with the help of a $12.8 million federal investment, including $5.6 million in earmarks secured by Durbin beginning in 2002. "The Macomb Transit Facility is an example of the value of federal investment in transportation projects," … Continue Reading
September 18, 2013
Durbin Announces Nearly $8.5 Million in Workforce Development and Training Grants for Illinois Community Colleges
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Labor has awarded a total of $8,460,255 in funding through the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training program to four colleges and universities throughout Illinois. The funding announced today is intended to help create and expand innovative partnerships between community colleges and businesses to educate and train workers with the skills employers need. The National … Continue Reading
August 30, 2013
Springfield to Receive $14.4 Million in Federal TIGER Grant Funds for Carpenter Street Underpass
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers today announced that the City of Springfield, Illinois has been awarded $14.4 million for the construction of a railroad underpass at Carpenter Street - an important component of the Springfield Rail Improvement Project and the entire Chicago-to-St. Louis passenger rail corridor. In June, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined U.S. Representatives Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) united in … Continue Reading
August 13, 2013
Durbin: FRA Taking Proactive Steps to Ensure Continued Safety of Metra Riders
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In response to a letter from U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) committed to increase safety oversight of Metra operations by taking additional steps to ensure that safety rules and regulations are being followed and the lines of communication are open between employees and management on all safety issues. According to a letter sent to Durbin by FRA Administrator Joseph Szabo, the FRA will further exercise its oversight authority by … Continue Reading
August 01, 2013
Durbin: THUD Bill Is the Latest Casualty of the Failed GOP Budget
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke at a press conference today following a failed vote on the spending bill to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 2014 fiscal year. Despite being passed out of the Senate Appropriations Committee by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 22-8, the measure failed to reach the necessary 60-vote threshold by a vote of 54-43. "Standing behind us are some men and women in the … Continue Reading
July 30, 2013
Durbin Announces More Than $1.6 Million at Chicagoland Airports
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,643,138 in funding to the state of Illinois for infrastructure improvements and upgrades at two airports in the Chicagoland region. "Today's funding will help these airports continue serving their users safely and efficiently by making needed improvements and upgrades," Durbin said. The following investments in Illinois' transportation infrastructure were made … Continue Reading
July 25, 2013
Durbin Announces $1.7 Million for Rural Development Project in Sangamon County
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Development division has awarded a loan of $1,700,000 to the Round Prairie Water Coop in Sangamon County, Illinois under the Water and Waste Disposal Loan Program. The project will construct extensions to the new water distribution system in Capital and Cotton Hill Townships that, when complete, will serve approximately 388 rural residents. The extensions will handle … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Durbin Meets with Mayor of Macomb
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Macomb, Illinois Mayor Mike Inman. In today's meeting Durbin and Inman discussed the importance of continued federal transportation investment to stimulate economic growth and the need to repair aging infrastructure to revitalize communities. "I was pleased to welcome Macomb Mayor Mike Inman to Washington today to discuss the city's transportation priorities," Durbin said. "This week, I am working in the Senate to … Continue Reading
July 24, 2013
Durbin Meets with Former Macomb Mayor to Discuss His Re-Nomination to Amtrak Board
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with former Mayor of Macomb, Illinois and current member of the Amtrak Board of Directors, Thomas Carper who was recently re-nominated by President Barack Obama to serve on the Amtrak Board. Carper's re-nomination must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In the meeting, Durbin and Carper discussed the Senate's bill - which is currently being debated - to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and … Continue Reading
June 28, 2013
Illinois Senators Work to Save Army Corps Stronghold and Its Missions to Prevent Spread of Asian Carp
WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today applauded passage of their amendment to the Energy and Water Appropriations bill that prevents the removal of critical functions and staff from the Chicago District Office of the Army Corps of Engineers. In June, the Corps of Engineers announced an effort to move Chicago District Office functions to Detroit, potentially impacting more than 200 employees who oversee Corps projects such as Asian Carp, electric … Continue Reading
June 27, 2013
Durbin: Bill to Fund Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Protects Illinois Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which he is a member, has approved a bill to fund the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the 2014 fiscal year that will protect Illinois priorities, promote infrastructure investment and create jobs. TIGER Grant Program Created by Congress in 2009, the TIGER grant program directs the Department of Transportation to invest in … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Thanking Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood For His Service to America and Illinois
When President Obama was elected four years ago, I urged him to appoint Ray LaHood to be America's Secretary of Transportation. I was confident that Ray would serve our nation with the same integrity and inexhaustible energy he had shown while serving his Congressional district in central Illinois. As Secretary LaHood prepares to leave his cabinet post, I am pleased but not a bit surprised to say that I was right. Ray LaHood is a proud Republican. Yet, when President Obama asked him … Continue Reading
June 18, 2013
Bipartisan Support in Congress for Springfield's Federal TIGER Grant Request
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A bipartisan group of Illinois lawmakers today united in support of the application for federal Transportation, Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant funding submitted earlier this month by the City of Springfield, Illinois. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) joined U.S. Representatives Aaron Schock (R-IL-18) and Rodney Davis (R-IL-13) in a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urging the Department of Transportation to … Continue Reading
June 13, 2013
Durbin, Kirk Applaud Decision to Make Public Assistance Available to Fifteen Additional Illinois Counties
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) today applauded the decision by President Obama to make Public Assistance funding available to fifteen additional Illinois counties - Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Greene, Hancock, Lawrence, McDonough, Monroe, Morgan, Peoria, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazewell and Will - that were affected by flash and river flooding that occurred in April. Public Assistance eligibility allows the State of Illinois, local … Continue Reading
June 04, 2013
Durbin and Kelly Meet to Discuss Transportation, Economic Development Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (D-IL) to discuss constituent services and economic development priorities in Illinois's 2nd congressional district, including job-creating infrastructure projects and efforts to train and educate workers in advanced manufacturing. "I am pleased to welcome Congresswoman Kelly to Illinois' congressional delegation. In her first few weeks in office, Congresswoman Kelly has already proven … Continue Reading
May 15, 2013
Durbin Announces Senate Approval of His Legislation to Improve Mississippi River Management and Extreme Weather Response
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that his legislation to bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods was approved by the U.S. Senate as part of the Water Resources Development Act of 2013. Specifically, the legislation would authorize a study of the entire Mississippi River Basin, for the first time ever, in order to help better understand how the Basin functions as a system and how it can best be managed in order to … Continue Reading
May 15, 2013
Durbin: Senate Passes WRDA Bill That Invests in Illinois Priorities and Will Make Us Better Prepared for Droughts, Floods
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 that the U.S. Senate passed earlier today by a strong bipartisan vote of 83-14 invests in Illinois priorities and will make Illinois and the Midwest better prepared for extreme weather events like droughts and floods. "This legislation is important to the commerce that moves on the Mississippi River, the Illinois River and other Illinois waterways; to those communities and … Continue Reading
May 10, 2013
Durbin Announces Illinois Control Towers Previously Slated for Closure Will Remain Open
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has confirmed to him that control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will remain open. The control towers were previously scheduled to close on June 15, 2013 due to the impact of mandatory spending cuts, known as sequestration. Last month, … Continue Reading
May 07, 2013
Durbin Meets with Champaign County Officials to Discuss Local Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from Champaign County First who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in to discuss local economic development and transportation priorities, including job-creating high speed rail and road construction projects. A photo from today's meeting is available here. Attendees at today's meeting included: Champaign Mayor Don Gerard, Champaign County Board President Alan Kurtz, Champaign Councilman Tom Bruno, … Continue Reading