Transportation & Infrastructure Archives - Page 20 of 40

Investing In our Infrastructure to Create Jobs in our Community

Studies have shown that investments in our infrastructure lead to new economic activity and job creation – that’s why I’m proud to help lead the fight to invest in Illinois’ roads, bridges, rail lines and airports. From working across the aisle in Congress to meeting with a Republican White House, I stand ready to collaborate in a bipartisan nature to reinvest in our infrastructure.

The 17th district is home to three international airports (Quad-City International Airport, Peoria International Airport and Chicago Rockford International Airport), in addition to several smaller regional airports. I’ve fought hard to bring home federal support for these airports. Additionally, after seeing how the Chicago Rockford International Airport’s cargo operation has helped to drive the local economy, I founded the bipartisan Air Cargo Caucus to raise awareness to lawmakers and their staff about the importance of supporting this critical industry.

Our district is defined by its connections. Our highways span thousands of miles that connect east to west and north to south. The Mississippi River, our district’s western border, and the Illinois Waterway move millions of tons of goods every year through aging locks and dams. The agricultural products, along with other products and goods, moved through these highways and waterway systems are key to commerce in the region. I was proud to push the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP) and help secure $4.5 million for funding to update our locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and provide critical ecosystem restoration. And with critical rail projects like the Quad-City to Chicago rail line still being developed, I am optimistic about the potential for new economic development opportunities in the future.

In 2015, I was proud to help lead a bipartisan effort to pass the first long-term highway bill in a decade. This legislation was projected to provide Illinois with over $7.5 billion in funding for highway, transit and transportation safety programs through fiscal year 2020. As Congress considers a new highway bill, I will continue to fight for the infrastructure needs of Illinois.

If we want to attract new employers to our region and create more good-paying jobs, we must strengthen our infrastructure system. Our parents left us with a world-class transportation system. We owe it to the next generation to carry on this promise.

More on Transportation & Infrastructure

Press Release

September 9, 2016

Durbin & Bustos Announce Nearly $400,000 in Department of Transportation Funding for Rock Island County’s MetroLINK

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and Senator Dick Durbin announced $391,000 in federal funding for the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District (MetroLINK). This funding will be used to replace diesel buses that have exceeded their useful life with compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, which are more sustainable and energy efficient. In […]

Press Release

August 30, 2016

Bustos, Durbin Announce $455,000 Investment in Chicago Rockford International Airport

ROCKFORD, IL – Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced $455,869 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Chicago Rockford International Airport. These funds will be used for the construction of a 30,000 square yard cargo apron to provide aircraft parking to meet the demand of […]

Press Release

July 8, 2016

Durbin, Bustos Announce More Than $1.7 Million for Peoria International Airport

PEORIA – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $1,742,290 for improvements at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport in Peoria, Illinois. Today’s announcement will fund the rehabilitation of the airport’s apron and builds on more than $1.6 million in […]

Press Release

June 21, 2016

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos Statement on Illinois Taking Steps toward building Quad-Cities to Chicago Rail

MOLINE, IL – Today Congresswoman Cheri Bustos voiced her strong support for Illinois’ decision to move forward with the long delayed Quad-Cities to Chicago rail project. Bustos, who serves as a member of the House Transportation Committee, has vocally supported the $177 million federal investment to build this project, however for 18 months, the State […]