03.22.24

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $2 Million to Reconnect Chicago's West Side

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $2,000,000 for the City of Chicago through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program to improve community safety, cohesion, and quality of life through a plan for enhanced connectivity over and around I-290 that serves the needs of residents living and working in Chicago’s West Side.

“Historically, Chicago’s West Side has been separated by the imposing physical barriers of I-290, which not only divides neighborhoods, but stifles economic growth and social cohesion,” said Durbin. “By prioritizing investments in infrastructure that reconnects rather than divides, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future where every resident of the West Side can thrive.”

“As a strong proponent of modernizing our state’s transportation infrastructure, I also believe that progress shouldn’t come at the expense of working communities’ livelihoods, businesses, and physical health,” said Duckworth. “I’m glad to help Senator Durbin announce this funding to help restore resources and community connectivity on the West Side of Chicago.”

The RCP Program was established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Durbin and Duckworth both supported, and is the first federal program dedicated to reconnecting communities that were previously cut off from economic opportunities by transportation infrastructure.

-30-