Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley, Kelly, Davis Demand Answers About Frozen Federal Funding For Chicago’s Red Line Extension Project & Red And Purple Modernization Project
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), along with U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), and Danny Davis (D-IL-07), sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy to demand answers about the Trump Administration’s decision to “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago’s infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
Durbin Slams Trump Administration For Pausing Grants For Chicago Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate Floor today after Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced that the Trump Administration would “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project and CTA’s Red and Purple Modernization (RPM) … Continue Reading
October 03, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Statement On Trump Administration Pausing $2.1 Billion In Grants For Chicago Infrastructure Projects
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statement after Russell Vought, Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB), announced that the Trump Administration would “put on hold” $2.1 billion in federal funding for Chicago infrastructure projects, including the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project and CTA’s Red and Purple … Continue Reading
September 15, 2025
Durbin Discusses Amtrak Services With IDOT Secretary
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today spoke with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Gia Biagi to discuss the recent disruptions to Amtrak service in Illinois. Between July and September, Amtrak suspended train service along select Illinois routes for maintenance. While Amtrak offered alternative bus service for riders during the suspension, the bus service may add significant time to riders’ commutes. During this service disruption, Durbin wrote … Continue Reading
August 08, 2025
Durbin Urges Amtrak To Swiftly Resume Service Of Illinois Routes After Suspending Service Without Adequate Notice For Riders
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today sent a letter to Roger Harris, President of Amtrak, to express his frustration at the suspension of Amtrak service along select Illinois routes. In his letter, Durbin called on Amtrak to resolve the suspensions as quickly as possible. “I write to express my disappointment and concern with the recent handling of the suspension of several roundtrips of Illinois Amtrak service,” Durbin wrote. As the train service is suspended, … Continue Reading
July 25, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Celebrate 100 Years Of Chicago Union Station
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) released the following statements to celebrate 100 years of Chicago Union Station: “Chicago, often referred to as the crossroads of America, holds a unique position in the converging point for railroads that cross our nation,” said Durbin. “Our very own Union Station is one of the busiest rail terminals in the country, and this week marks 100 years of reliable transportation for passengers. … Continue Reading
March 12, 2025
Durbin Meets With Illinois Members of National League Of Cities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with Illinois leaders with the National League of Cities as they visited Capitol Hill. During their meeting, Durbin and the local leaders spoke about a number of Illinois priorities, including continuing infrastructure and transportation projects that are impacted by President Trump’s decision to freeze federal funding. Earlier this week, Durbin sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy seeking clarity on the … Continue Reading
March 10, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Demand Answers About The Effect Of Trump Administration's Infrastructure Funding Pause On Illinois
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy criticizing the Trump Administration’s mismanagement of federal funding for Illinois transportation and infrastructure projects. In their letter, the Senators called for more clarity on the future of transportation and infrastructure grants and formula funding for states that were included in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs … Continue Reading
January 08, 2025
Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $114 Million In Federal Funding For EV Charging Stations Across Chicago
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $114,471,562 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations throughout the Chicagoland area. The recipients of this funding are the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. IEPA’s project Equitable Future-Ready Electrification Infrastructure for Green Heavy-duty Transportation … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Chicago Delegation Announce $1.9 Billion Funding Agreement With FTA To Support Chicago's Red Line Extension Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Danny K. Davis (D-IL-07), and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09) announced that the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) intends to sign a full funding grant agreement for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)’s Red Line Extension Project. The funding agreement will contractually … Continue Reading
December 18, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Call For Extension Of Federal Funding For Chicago-Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg urging him to grant an extension for the federal funding secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that progress has been made in the planning phase of the project … Continue Reading
December 13, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Call On Transportation Leaders To Reach Agreement, Finalize Federal Funding Application For Chicago Hub Improvement Project
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today sent a letter to the leaders of Amtrak, Canadian National, Metra, and Union Pacific, urging the leaders to reach an agreement on all outstanding aspects of Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s upcoming federal grant application to advance the Chicago Hub Improvement Project (CHIP) for Chicago Union Station (CUS). The application … Continue Reading
November 14, 2024
Durbin Duckworth Announce $31.9 Million In Federal Funding For Low Carbon Construction Materials
WASHINGTON ? U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $31,933,577 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Fiscal Year 2022 Low Carbon Transportation Materials Grants Program. Administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive this federal funding to implement and use low carbon materials on Federal-aid construction projects … Continue Reading
November 13, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Lead Delegation Letter Urging GSA To Act To Remediate Elevated Levels Of Lead And Legionella Found In Federal Buildings In Chicago, Rockford
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Danny Davis (D-IL07), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), and Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03) sent a letter to the leadership of the General Services Administration (GSA) requesting answers on how the agency … Continue Reading
November 08, 2024
Durbin Celebrates Completion of Willard Airport Taxiway Project
SAVOY - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of University of Illinois’ Willard Airport’s midfield taxiway realignment project. This federally funded project is part of a broader effort by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure taxiways nationwide meet the latest safety standards. “By improving airport infrastructure, we are laying the foundation for increased connectivity and reliability,” said … Continue Reading
November 01, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth Announce $87 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Rail System Improvements
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $87,078,200 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program for four rail infrastructure improvement projects across Illinois. “Illinois holds a unique position as the converging point for railroads that cross our nation,” said Durbin. “This significant federal investment will ensure our state … Continue Reading
October 25, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Budzinski, Announce $157 Million In Federal Funding For Springfield Rail Improvements Project
SPRINGFIELD - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13) today announced $157,126,494 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for the final segment of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project (SRIP). The multi-phased project is a large-scale effort supported by local, state, and federal funding designed to alleviate rail congestion in downtown Springfield by consolidating … Continue Reading
October 23, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley, Sorensen Announce $33.5 Million In Federal Funding For Peoria And Chicago Airports
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) and Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today announced $33,510,000 in federal funding from the Department of Transportation’s Airport Terminal Program. With today’s announced funding, General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport will receive $13,510,000 for the replacement of their air traffic control tower, and Chicago O’Hare International Airport will … Continue Reading
October 18, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Quigley Announce More Than $81 Million In Additional Federal Funding For the CREATE Program
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) today announced $81,301,065 in federal funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) INFRA (Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects) Program for the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, which aims to reduce traffic delays, increase rail junction safety, and improve mobility … Continue Reading
October 15, 2024
Durbin, Duckworth, Members Of Illinois Delegation Announce $15.8 Million In Federal Funding For Chicago Transit Authority Improvements
CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), U.S. Representatives Jesus “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), and Danny Davis (D-IL-07) today announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $15,805,600 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for improvements to the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Forest Park Branch. This track modernization project will lead to increased service … Continue Reading