11.15.11

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 Illinois improves the quality of life for all residents – even those that don’t rely on public transportation,” Durbin said. “Today’s investments will contribute to our state’s long-term economic growth and help reduce our reliance on foreign oil.”

 

The following organizations were awarded competitive grant funding through Department of Transportation’s 2011 Clean Fuels Program under this announcement:

 

  • Illinois Department of Transportation, Statewide: $5,000,000 in funding for the purchase of replacement hybrid-electric vehicles to downstate transit agencies;

 

  • Springfield Mass Transit District, Springfield: $1,000,000 in funding to replace the district’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) fueling station.

 

The following organizations were awarded competitive grant funding through Department of Transportation’s 2011 Transit Investments for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction (TIGGER) Program under this announcement:

           

  • Metra, Chicago Metro Area: $2,208,000 in funding for a Northeastern Illinois energy efficiency improvement project.  The project will replace the main engine generators – which provide various amenities to people on board trains, ranging from electric lights to heating – on several passenger locomotives to save fuel and reduce emissions.