02.23.23

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $375,000 For City Of Rockford Through Department Of Transportation’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program

ROCKFORD – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the city of Rockford, Illinois, has been awarded $375,031 through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. This is the first round of funding from this program, making Rockford one of the first awardees in the nation. The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program is the first federal program dedicated to reconnecting communities that were previously cut off from economic opportunities by transportation infrastructure. 

“Throughout our history, infrastructure has been built in a way that creates barriers to mobility for neighborhoods across Illinois and our nation,” said Durbin. “Highways, railroads, roads, and bridges are the pathways to success for our communities, and properly connecting them will improve resident’s quality of life while spurring new economic opportunities. I look forward to seeing the developments Rockford will be able to make with the help of this federal investment.”

“I’m pleased to see the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law at work right here in Illinois,”U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said. “I was proud to help pass this historic law and I’m glad to see an equitable investment coming to Rockford to help the City develop a plan for transportation improvements. I’ll keep working to make sure Illinois has the support it needs to help make safe and reliable infrastructure available for every community.”

Rockford will use this funding to identify transit-oriented development opportunities throughout the eligible facility centered around a new passenger rail station along the existing Canadian National tracks. They will study the feasibility of removing and repurposing eligible rail tracks and yards, as well as the configuration of additional right of ways for alternative uses.

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