Durbin Talks Infrastructure With Champaign County First
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met virtually with Champaign County First to discuss county infrastructure priorities now that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has been signed into law. During their conversation, Durbin and Champaign County leaders discussed potential federal funding for several current projects in the region, including The Yards development at the Illinois Terminal of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District (MTD); the Curtis Road Underpass Project in Savoy; the Kickapoo Trail; the Florida Avenue Corridor Reconstruction Project; the South Mahomet Connection Project; and the long-term protection of the Village of Mahomet’s aquifer to continue providing 200 million gallons of groundwater per day to the nearly one million people it serves.
On the call, Durbin and the county leaders also spoke about improving Amtrak on-time performance and Durbin’s Rail Passenger Fairness Act, which would provide Amtrak with the ability to sue freight railroads in court to enforce its statutory preference and improve on-time performance along the Chicago-Champaign-Carbondale Amtrak route.
“It was great to touch base with Champaign County First today to talk through our shared infrastructure priorities for Central Illinois,” said Durbin. “With the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this is an opportunity for historic reinvestment in our state, and I’m eager to work with local leaders to put these infrastructure projects in motion.”
A photo of the virtual meeting is available here.
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