Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
As Member of Conference Committee, Durbin Vows to Protect Illinois Jobs and Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that he has been named by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to the joint Senate-House Conference Committee tasked with working out the differences between the Senate (S.1813) version and House (H.R.4348) version of a national transportation funding bill. "As the road, rail and aviation hub of the country, Illinois depends on a robust federal investment in transportation projects to keep its economy moving," said … Continue Reading
April 18, 2012
Durbin, Costello Meet With Army Assistant Secretary Regarding Metro East Levees
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today held a meeting with Assistant Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers, Jo-Ellen Darcy, commander of the St. Louis District, Colonel Christopher Hall, and the head of the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council, Les Sterman, to discuss streamlining the review process for the Metro East levee project. The Army Corps pledged their continued commitment to the project, and will … Continue Reading
March 15, 2012
Durbin Announces A Nearly $600,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has made a $597,490 investment in five fire departments in Illinois. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies. "Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect America's citizens," Durbin said. "As these brave men and … Continue Reading
March 14, 2012
Durbin: Bipartisan Senate Transportation Bill Best Route for Illinois Jobs, National Economy
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate passed legislation by a vote of 74-22 that will create and protect millions of jobs nationwide while preventing crippling cuts to Illinois' highways and public transit agencies. Durbin urged the House of Representatives to take up and pass the legislation as soon as possible. "This transportation bill is the real jobs bill and it passed today with overwhelming bipartisan support," said Durbin. "This … Continue Reading
March 08, 2012
Durbin: Bipartisan Senate Transportation Bill is Best Route for Illinois Jobs
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - With Senate Democrats and Republicans having reached an agreement to advance a national transportation funding bill that would protect public transit, highways, and jobs in Illinois and across the country, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today pressed House Republican leaders to take up the Senate's bipartisan compromise that will create and protect millions of jobs nationwide while preventing crippling cuts to Illinois' highways and public transit agencies. Reports … Continue Reading
March 07, 2012
Durbin Meets with Bloomington-Normal Officials to Discuss Economic Development and Transportation Issues
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today met with business and labor leaders from the Bloomington-Normal area who were in Washington, DC as part of the fifth annual "One Voice" trip. Durbin and members of the group discussed the region's economic development as well as other issues affecting McLean County including the pending transportation bill being debated in the Senate and agricultural issues. The Senate is currently debating a bipartisan transportation funding bill which … Continue Reading
March 06, 2012
Durbin Meets With Champaign Chamber to Discuss Regional Transportation Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from Champaign County Chamber of Commerce who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in to discuss local transportation priorities, including job-creating road construction projects. Durbin also discussed bipartisan legislation he has introduced called the Marketplace Fairness Act which would allow local brick-and-mortar retailers in Champaign and across Illinois to compete more effectively against out-of-state … Continue Reading
February 24, 2012
Durbin: House Republicans Right to Drop Partisan Transportation Bill that Would Decimate Local Projects and Transit Systems
[PEORIA, IL] - After House Republicans reportedly scrapped their second attempt to pass a partisan transportation funding bill yesterday in the face of overwhelming bipartisan opposition, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today called on Republican leaders to consider a bipartisan, two-year compromise-like the Senate transportation bill that passed a major procedural hurdle earlier this month by a vote of 85-11. Unless House Republicans reverse course and work in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation … Continue Reading
February 23, 2012
Durbin Joins Mayor Spring and Cape Air to Dedicate Newly-Opened Maintenance Facility at Quincy Regional Airport
[QUINCY, IL] - As passenger traffic at Quincy Regional Airport reaches an all-time high, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin signaled the strength and importance of the Quincy community's relationship with Cape Air today by dedicating a new facility for regular and unscheduled airplane maintenance. With this facility, Cape Air increases its presence in the Quincy community and adds three highly skilled and good-paying jobs to the area, with the potential for additional job growth. "The opening of this … Continue Reading
February 21, 2012
Durbin: House Republicans Should Go Back to Drawing Board on Transportation Bill
[CHICAGO, IL] - The House Republicans should go back to the drawing board rather than piece together a partisan transportation bill that has little chance of passing, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said today. Federal funding for transportation agencies throughout Illinois-including the Chicago Transit Authority and Metra-is at serious risk under the House Republican proposal. The Senate's transportation funding bill-an alternative proposal which enjoys bipartisan support-passed a major procedural … Continue Reading
February 10, 2012
Durbin Announces Nearly $2 Million in Federal Funding for Springfield Transit
[SPRINGFIELD, IL] - Transit users in Springfield will soon be able to ride on cleaner, more efficient buses as the result of nearly $2 million in federal transit funding, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The Springfield Mass Transit District received $1.95 million to replace five aging buses with new clean diesel models through the Federal Transit Authority. "These new buses will allow Springfield to save money on fuel and keep our air clean because they use fuel more … Continue Reading
February 09, 2012
Durbin, Quinn Applaud Nearly $2 Million Federal Investment in Rockford Multi-Modal Station
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today announced that $1.95 million in federal funding has been awarded to the Rockford area for the development and design of a new multi-modal station in Rockford. Today's funding is in addition to the $3 million in Illinois Jobs Now! capital plan funding that was announced last month by Quinn. "With this new multimodal station, Rockford is set to benefit from the economic boost that comes with passenger … Continue Reading
February 07, 2012
Durbin: Congress Approves Bill to Protect Essential Air Service for Illinois Communities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced that late last night the U.S. Senate approved legislation that will ensure that Illinois communities including Marion, Quincy and Decatur will remain a part of the Essential Air Service (EAS) program. The FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act - approved by the U.S. House of Representatives last week and will now go to the President for his signature - helps rural areas keep the commercial air service they … Continue Reading
February 06, 2012
Congress Approves Durbin Provision to Encourage Sustainable Airport Design
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A provision, authored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), that would help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) create a standardized, voluntary set of best practices to help airports operate and build sustainable facilities was included in the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act which was approved today by the U.S. Senate. The provision would establish a working group to develop these standards and help create a voluntary rating system. … Continue Reading
February 06, 2012
Congress Approves Durbin Provision to Encourage Partnerships Between Air and Rail Travel
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - A provision, authored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study ways to increase coordination between air and passenger rail travel is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act which was approved today by the U.S. Senate. The provision specifically identifies codeshare agreements as one way that airlines and passenger rail providers can better … Continue Reading
February 06, 2012
Durbin Commends Amtrak and Metra for Actions to Lower Pollution, Calls on Old Post Office Owner to Cooperate
[CHICAGO, IL] - A collaborative effort among Amtrak, Metra, and state and federal agencies to reduce diesel soot emissions and improve air quality in and around Union Station has already produced positive results, but further progress requires the full cooperation of adjacent property owners, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. Durbin wrote a letter today to the owner of the Old Post Office located south of Union Station to ask that he properly maintain and operate the ventilation … Continue Reading
January 31, 2012
Durbin: Illinois in Need of Increased Rail Investment Under New Transportation Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to increase funding for job creating Illinois rail and multimodal priorities - including rail line relocation grants, Amtrak and the TIGER grant program - in its bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Durbin also urged the Committee to reject the proposals in the House Transportation bill that would eliminate or dramatically reduce funding for programs that are … Continue Reading
January 09, 2012
Durbin and Quinn Announce $7.7 Million in Investment to Help Illinois Communities Recover from Storms
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today announced a more than $7.7 million investment in Illinois communities to help cover the costs of repairing roads and bridges damaged by storms last year. Today's funding is provided through the Department of Transportation's Emergency Relief program which funds the repair and reconstruction of federal highways and roads that have suffered serious damage as a result of natural disasters and other outside … Continue Reading
December 12, 2011
Durbin, Quinn, Costello, Emanuel, Hoechst Announce Illinois to Receive $44 Million Investment Through Tiger Grant Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Representative Jerry Costello (D-IL) joined Mayors Rahm Emanuel of Chicago and Tom Hoechst of Alton today in announcing that Illinois will receive a total of $44,288,000 in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant funding for three Illinois projects in the Chicagoland area and Alton. The grants represent approximately 8 percent of total funding available through the program. … Continue Reading
December 07, 2011
Durbin Applauds STB Decision to Further Investigate Canadian National in Light of Recent Train Derailment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today applauded the Surface Transportation Board (STB) for exercising its oversight authority to determine whether Canadian National is properly maintaining and upgrading the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) Railway to handle hazardous materials and prevent derailments in light of a recent train derailment in an area near Elgin, Illinois. In a letter to Canadian National, the STB explained that this is the second audit ordered of … Continue Reading