Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin, Kirk Request Surface Transportation Board Review of Barrington EJ&E Study
[CHICAGO, IL] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today sent a letter to members of the Surface Transportation Board regarding the Village of Barrington's petition seeking additional mitigation efforts from the Canadian National Railway Company (CN) following its acquisition of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E). In May, the Village commissioned a study regarding the impact of CN's increased use of the EJ&E line that bisects the community. The … Continue Reading
November 30, 2011
Durbin, Kirk to American Airlines: Keep Illinois Routes and Projects a Priority
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to the Chairman and CEO of AMR Corporation, the parent company of American Airlines, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) today urged the airline to make Illinois routes and projects - such as the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP) and downstate air service - a priority as it moves forward with bankruptcy proceedings. "American Airlines has a long history in Illinois: American began air service in Illinois in 1926, when Charles Lindbergh … Continue Reading
November 18, 2011
Durbin: STB Taking a Closer Look at Canadian National in Light of Recent Train Derailment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), the Surface Transportation Board (STB) confirmed that they are closely monitoring Canadian National's operation of the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern (EJ&E) Railway and working with the Federal Railroad Administration in light of a recent train derailment. The train which was reportedly carrying hazardous material chemicals - sodium hydroxide and ferric sulfate - derailed on November 3, throwing 22 train cars off the tracks … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011
Durbin Announces More than $8.2 Million in DOT Funding to Reduce Illinois' Reliance on Foreign Oil
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that three Illinois transportation service providers and organizations have been awarded a total of $8,208,000 in competitive grants by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This funding will be used by the grant recipients to reduce their reliance on foreign oil, promote use of clean fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "Increasing use of cleaner, more energy efficient vehicles in public transportation throughout … Continue Reading
November 15, 2011
Durbin: Final Transportation Funding Bill Protects Illinois Amtrak
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement after a Conference Committee between members of the Senate and the House of Representatives released a final appropriations bill that includes funding for transportation projects in Illinois and around the country. The legislation will now go to the House and Senate for final approval. "By rejecting the House Republican proposal that would have devastated Illinois Amtrak, the members of the … Continue Reading
November 14, 2011
Durbin Asks Committee to Include Illinois Transit Priorities in Next Surface Transportation Bill
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today asked the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to include funding for Illinois transit priorities in their bill to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Act. Last week, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) voted unanimously to favorably report its portion of the legislation. The Banking Committee, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and Senate Finance Committee all must … Continue Reading
November 10, 2011
Durbin, Kirk Announce Nearly $500,000 in DOT Funding to Help Illinois' Veterans Literally "Get to Work"
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded a $362,000 competitive grant to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and a $131,325 competitive grant to Lee County, Illinois, to enhance access to affordable transportation for wounded warriors as well as military families and spouses. The funding, which comes through DOT's new Veterans Transportation and Community Living Initiative, … Continue Reading
November 04, 2011
Durbin Calls for STB to Investigate Canadian National Train Derailment
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Following the second derailment of a Canadian National train near Elgin this year, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to open an investigation to determine if Canadian National is properly maintaining and upgrading the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern (EJ&E) railway to handle hazardous materials and prevent derailments. The train which was reportedly carrying three hazardous material chemicals - sodium hydroxide, ferrous … Continue Reading
November 01, 2011
Durbin: Bill to Fund Departments of Agriculture, Transportation, Justice, Others Protects Several Illinois Priorities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Senate has approved a bill to fund several federal agencies for the 2012 fiscal year that includes funding that will enhance programs and create jobs in Illinois. Many of these priorities were included in President Obama's 2012 Budget and supported by Durbin. High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail On September 21, Durbin - a Co-Chair and founding member of the Bi-Cameral High- Speed & Intercity Passenger … Continue Reading
October 26, 2011
Durbin: House Transportation Bill Wrong Approach to Amtrak Funding
[ST. LOUIS, MO] - A House transportation funding proposal would dismantle Amtrak service and stunt high-speed rail growth in spite of record ridership numbers, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today during a news conference at the Gateway Multimodal Transportation Center in St. Louis, Missouri. "St. Louis is one of the most important hubs in the nation's passenger rail network and Gateway Station is the anchor of that network. Residents of the St. Louis region on both sides of the … Continue Reading
October 18, 2011
Durbin Announces Over $450,000 DOT Investment in Bloomington-Normal Transit
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Bloomington-Normal Public Transit System has been awarded two grants totaling $465,600 through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to purchase radios and procure Intelligent Transportation System software, hardware and other equipment for fixed route bus service. "Better communication can lead to cleaner, safer transportation that will improve the quality of life for all … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Durbin and Ardis Applaud DOT Funding to Study Passenger Rail Between Peoria and Bloomington-Normal
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mayor Jim Ardis of Peoria, Illinois joined the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission in celebrating the Department of Transportation (DOT)'s decision to award $160,000 in funding to study the feasibility of establishing passenger rail service from Bloomington-Normal - which is currently served by Amtrak service from Chicago to St. Louis - to Peoria. "Connecting Peoria to the high speed rail service in Bloomington-Normal opens up … Continue Reading
October 13, 2011
Durbin, Emanuel Announces $38 Million Investment to Improve Transit In Chicago
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $38,000,000 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to upgrade transit facilities, study new transit routes and replace aging buses and equipment with new fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-saving materials. "Bringing new buses with more capacity and cleaner emissions to Chicago … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Durbin Announces $51 Million DOT Investment to Improve Transit in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that several Illinois transit projects have been awarded a total of $51,657,400 in grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT grants include funding to upgrade transit facilities, study new transit routes and replace aging buses and equipment with new fuel-efficient vehicles and cost-saving materials. "Bringing new buses with more capacity and cleaner emissions to cities throughout Illinois, improves … Continue Reading
October 12, 2011
Durbin: Federal Investment Will Help Metra Reduce Emissions
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today said that a $5,288,000 investment from the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement Program will help Metra reduce emissions and improve air quality in and around their trains. "Reducing the cloud of smoke from METRA locomotives will save fuel and help limit exposure to harmful air pollution," said Durbin. "This $5.2 million investment will help pay for this important clean-up." In February, Durbin met … Continue Reading
September 29, 2011
Durbin Meets with Community Stakeholders to Discuss Economic Impact of Amtrak Service to Western Illinois
[QUINCY, IL] - Rail service throughout Illinois - including the route between Chicago and Quincy - is at serious risk of being eliminated if the transportation spending bill proposed by House Republicans becomes law, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said today. The funding bill for the 2012 fiscal year released last week by the House Transportation Appropriation Subcommittee prohibits Amtrak from helping states pay for state-sponsored routes, which will effectively eliminate all … Continue Reading
September 22, 2011
Durbin Commends Announcement of a Nearly $1.8 Million Federal Grant Award to Support Development of Aerospace Industry in Rockford
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today commended the Obama Administration's announcement $1,769,987 in federal funding for a project - designed by seven Rockford Area groups - that aims to strengthen the local aerospace industry. The Rockford project is one of 20 winning projects awarded a total of $38 million in funding today through President Obama's Jobs and Innovation Accelerator Challenge which awarded funds to support a wide range of economic and workforce … Continue Reading
September 21, 2011
Durbin-Lautenberg-Feinstein-Landrieu Amendment Restores $100 Million in Funding for High Speed Rail
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee has accepted their amendment on a bi-partisan basis to restore $100 million in funding for High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail grants. As rail travel continues to grow in popularity as an alternative to other forms of transportation, this investment will create jobs by putting unemployed construction … Continue Reading
September 20, 2011
Durbin, Kirk Ask Metra to Justify Fare Increases, Consulting Fees
[CHICAGO, IL] - United States Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today sent a letter to Alex Clifford, Executive Director and CEO of Metra, asking him to offer an explanation of costs incurred by the agency, and justify the proposed 30% fare increase. Metra currently has a six-month, $225,000 contract with George Avery Grimes, a consultant brought on to increase agency efficiencies and reduce costs. Grimes' contract is under review for a six-month extension. In their letter, … Continue Reading
September 20, 2011
Durbin Meets with Secretary of Transportation and FAA Administrator
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Randy Babbitt to discuss Illinois transportation priorities including the O'Hare Modernization Program and FAA Reauthorization. "Transportation is the key to creating and keeping jobs in the Midwest and Secretary LaHood understands that," said Durbin. "He also understands how important the O'Hare Modernization … Continue Reading