Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin: Court Ruling Will Clear the Air for Amtrak and Metra Passengers at Union Station
[CHICAGO] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded U.S. Federal Court Judge Harry Leinenweber's approval of a Consent Decree that requires the owner of the former main Chicago Post Office, International Property Developers (IPD), to operate all the exhaust fans "seven (7) days a week, twenty-four (24) hours a day" to provide ventilation for the tracks at Union Station in Chicago. The Consent Decree also allows regular inspections by Amtrak, which owns the station through its Chicago … Continue Reading
March 29, 2013
Durbin, Schneider Announce Nearly One Million in Funding for Waukegan Harbor Dredging
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (IL-10) today announced that the Army Corps of Engineers has awarded $990,000 in funding for dredging in Waukegan Harbor to clean up shoaling caused by Hurricane Sandy and allow the Harbor to reopen to navigation. The funding was awarded as part of the $821 million approved for the Army Corps of Engineers in the supplemental appropriations bill to aid victims of Hurricane Sandy and to rebuild the areas … Continue Reading
March 22, 2013
Durbin Statement on FAA Announcement of Illinois Air Control Tower Closings Decision
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement in reaction to the Federal Aviation Administration's announcement that air traffic control towers at five Illinois airports - St. Louis Regional Airport, Central Illinois Regional Airport, Decatur Airport, Southern Illinois Airport and Waukegan Regional Airport - will close starting April 7, 2013. "There are many in Congress still arguing that the spending cuts due to sequestration won't make a … Continue Reading
March 19, 2013
Durbin Meets with Illinois Corn Growers to Discuss Mississippi River Navigation and Other Agricultural Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with members of the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) to discuss bipartisan, bicameral legislation he introduced last week that would help the Army Corps of Engineers better maintain navigation on the Mississippi River during extreme weather and improve the nation's water infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Both bills were endorsed by the ICGA earlier today. At a speech today to members of the national … Continue Reading
March 14, 2013
Durbin, Enyart, Davis Introduce Bill to Protect Jobs by Improving Mississippi River Management and Responsiveness to Extreme Weather
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Responding to the recent record low water levels along the Mississippi River that threatened navigation and Southern Illinois commerce, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Representative Bill Enyart (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would bolster efforts to maintain commercial river traffic during droughts and floods while minimizing the economic toll on Southern Illinois. "We came close to economic … Continue Reading
March 13, 2013
Durbin Meets with Chatham Mayor to Discuss Local Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) met today with Chatham Mayor Tom Gray and City Manager Del McCord to discuss local transportation and infrastructure priorities. "I was pleased to welcome Chatham's mayor Tom Gray and city manager Del McCord to Washington today to discuss the village's transportation priorities, including rail," Durbin … Continue Reading
January 29, 2013
Durbin Urges Care in Midway Privatization
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today urged care in evaluating and approving any existing or future airport privatization agreements. Two airports are currently moving toward privatization through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)'s Airport Privatization Pilot Program - Midway International Airport in Chicago, Illinois and Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. While Puerto Rico is … Continue Reading
December 18, 2012
Durbin Meets with Rockford Airport Director to Discuss Support for Regional Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Mike Dunn, Director of Chicago Rockford International Airport, to discuss regional transportation and infrastructure priorities. A photo of today's meeting is available here. Dunn has served as the airport director since January 2012. He previously served as an airport board member and board chairman. "As one of the busiest air cargo airports not just in Illinois, but in the entire country, Chicago Rockford International … Continue Reading
December 12, 2012
Durbin: Demolition of Rock Pinnacles Could Begin Next Week
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the news that a contract has been awarded for the demolition of rock pinnacles in the Mississippi River and the work could begin as early as next week. In a November 29 meeting with Durbin and five other Midwest Senators, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Jo-Ellen Darcy, agreed to expedite the demolition process in order to help navigation on the Mississippi River. "The Army Corps of Engineers has wasted no … Continue Reading
December 07, 2012
Durbin: Army Corps Believes Their Efforts Will Maintain Traffic Along the Mississippi River Despite Low Water Levels
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he will convene a meeting of stakeholders - including Senators from states bordering the Mississippi River, state and local officials and representatives from industries such as agriculture and shipping - for a briefing from the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss navigation on the Mississippi River through means other than releasing additional water from the Missouri River. Durbin also announced that the Army Corps … Continue Reading
September 25, 2012
Senators Work to Improve Lock and Dam Infrastructure Along Mississippi River
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) sent a letter to the Environment and Public Works Committee which just began work on a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill, to include funding and legislative language that would establish a long-term strategy to expedite construction and operation of critical lock and dam projects along the Mississippi River. "The … Continue Reading
September 21, 2012
Durbin: Next WRDA Bill Should Include Streamlined Levee Approval Process
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today asked the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which just began work on a new Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill, to include legislative language to streamline the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 408 approval process for communities making improvements to flood control infrastructure. According to Durbin, this change will recognize that communities willing to raise the funds to make repairs should be able to … Continue Reading
September 19, 2012
Durbin, Emanuel Announces $1.5 Million DOT Investment in Chicago Transit
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,500,000 in funding for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to continue work on a new bus service along the Western Avenue and Ashland Avenue. The Western and Ashland Corridors Bus Rapid Transit Project is expected to strengthen connections to CTA's and Metra's rail network while improving reliability, speed and convenience for … Continue Reading
September 17, 2012
Durbin Announces More Than $356,000 Award to Village of Palatine
[CHICAGO, IL] U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) totaling $356,796 to the Village of Palatine. The grant will support efforts by non-profits and local government entities to provide support service, affordable housing and infrastructure projects in the Palatine area. "From counseling for abused children to rental housing assistance for seniors, this grant will … Continue Reading
September 13, 2012
Durbin, City Announce a $12 Million Investment in O'Hare and Midway Airports
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation, Rosemarie S. Andolino, today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded a total of $11,966,213 in funding to Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport. "Today's runway investment will help the City of Chicago reduce flight delays and improve efficiency for traveling and shipping throughout the … Continue Reading
September 12, 2012
Durbin: Amtrak Ridership Increase Is More Good News for Illinois Travelers and Businesses
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that the increase in Amtrak ridership over the last year is good news for travelers that looking for a safer, greener, more efficient transportation option and businesses that rely on the economic activity generated along the four Illinois-supported Amtrak routes. Earlier today, Amtrak announced that nationwide ridership has increased 3.4% over the first 11 months of Amtrak's fiscal year with September expected to be on pace to … Continue Reading
September 12, 2012
Durbin Announces $4.9 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4.9 million in funding to the City of Chicago for noise mitigation measures at St. Tarcisius Elementary School near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The private school is made up of four buildings on the northwest side of Chicago and serves more than 370 students. This grant will fund construction on sound proofing efforts including insulated windows, additional … Continue Reading
September 12, 2012
Durbin Announces $1.8 Million Investment for Improvements at Quad Cities Airport
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $1,800,000 grant to the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County for improvements at Quad City International Airport. This funding will be used to will modify the existing terminal building to construct a Federal Inspection Services Facility, which is needed to meet existing demands for the clearance of international cargo, passengers, and flight crews. … Continue Reading
August 29, 2012
Durbin Announces Over $5 Million in Additional Department of Labor Grants for Illinois Youth
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced the U.S. Department of Labor has awarded five grants totaling in $5,127,556 to YouthBuild organizations throughout Illinois. YouthBuild assists out-of-school youth in obtaining their diplomas or GEDs while providing occupational training in the construction industry. Participants in the program include individuals who have been in the juvenile justice system, youth aging out of foster care, high school dropouts and … Continue Reading
August 29, 2012
Durbin Announces $4.5 Million in DOT Funding for O'Hare Noise Mitigation
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $4.5 million in funding to the Board of Education of the City of Chicago District 299 for noise mitigation measures at Farnsworth Elementary School near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. This grant will fund construction on sound proofing efforts including acoustic window unit, ceiling, vestibule and doorway installment, mechanical and electrical system revision, … Continue Reading