Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Transportation and Infrastructure
Durbin Announces $128 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Job Creating Projects in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that three Illinois transportation projects will receive a total of $128 million in funding through the Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. Nearly $57 billion in bids were submitted nationwide for the $1.5 billion that was made available for TIGER grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Durbin was a leader in the effort to include TIGER program fun… Continue Reading
02.12.10
Durbin Announces $500,000 in Funding for Chicago Rockford International Airport
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $500,000 in funding to the Chicago Rockford International Airport to help recruit carriers and develop low-fare service to major business centers in the United States. Durbin sent a letter in October in support of the airport's application under the Small Community Air Service Development Program."Rockford airport has proven to be a viable commerc… Continue Reading
02.02.10
Durbin Meets with Canadian National CEO to Discuss Mitigation and Amtrak On Time Performance
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today met with the new CEO of Canadian National (CN), Claude Mongeau, to discuss the company's mitigation efforts along the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railway (EJ&E) and improving Amtrak on time performance. On December 24, the Surface Transportation Board approved CN's acquisition of the EJ&E Railway despite strong opposition from local communities in Illinois that will experience dramatic increases in freight traffic."With a historic invest… Continue Reading
01.30.10
Durbin Statement on Funding for Amtrak Service to the Quad Cities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the effort by the State of Illinois to bring Amtrak service to the Quad Cities. Durbin has helped bring together Amtrak, federal, state and local officials in order to secure high speed rail for Illinois and the Midwest and to extend new service from Chicago to Rockford and the Quad Cities. Durbin also added that in addition to the recently announced $8 billion in federal high speed rail funds, Congress includ… Continue Reading
01.30.10
Durbin Statement on Funding for Amtrak Service to Rockford
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today praised the effort by the State of Illinois to bring Amtrak service to Rockford. Durbin has helped bring together Amtrak, federal, state and local officials in order to secure high speed rail for Illinois and the Midwest and to extend new service from Chicago to Rockford and the Quad Cities. Durbin also added that in addition to the recently announced $8 billion in federal high speed rail funds, Congress included $2.5… Continue Reading
01.29.10
Durbin Statement on GM, Chrysler Decisions to Pursue Arbitration for Closed Dealerships
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after GM and Chrysler announced they would proceed with the arbitration process Durbin and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) developed to resolve the ongoing dispute between GM, Chrysler and dealerships that were closed during the companies' restructuring. "I'm pleased that both GM and Chrysler have agreed to support the binding arbitration process we developed last year. Closed… Continue Reading
01.28.10
Durbin, Quinn Welcome High-Speed Rail Investment in Illinois
CHICAGO, IL, January 28, 2010 - Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today issued the following statement with regard to the announcement that Illinois has been awarded more than $1.2 billion in federal funds for high-speed rail: "In the face of fierce competition from states across the nation, Illinois' high-speed rail proposal received a strong vote of confidence from the White House today. Illinois was one of only three states to be awarded more than one bi… Continue Reading
01.07.10
Durbin Announces $2.9 Million For Completion Of Railroad Grade Separations
[GALESBURG, IL] - The city of Galesburg will see traffic flow improvements, enhanced safety for motorists and pedestrians and the potential for new jobs with the help of $2.9 million in federal funding U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) secured to help the City complete three railroad grade separations. Shortly after his April 16, 2009 meeting with Galesburg officials and visit to the BNSF hump tower, Durbin fulfilled his promise to secure the federal funding needed to make the grade separations a… Continue Reading
12.17.09
Durbin, Illinois Delegation: High Speed Rail Funding Will Have Greatest Impact in Illinois
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - In a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation made the case that the federal funding available for high speed rail would have the greatest impact on Illinois. The Illinois Members wrote: Illinois has spearheaded a regional effort in the Midwest to build an integrated high speed rail network. These Midwest states have already completed careful planning and made si… Continue Reading
12.13.09
Durbin: Congress Approves More Than $126 Million in Funding For Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the final Omnibus spending bill which includes $126,432,544 in funding for several Illinois projects was approved by Congress. The bill will then go to the President for his signature. SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS: CHICAGO TRANSIT ($9,304,744): Today's legislation includes over $9.3 million in funding to advance the Circle line project in Chicago; expand capacity along the Chicago Transit Authority (CT… Continue Reading
12.12.09
Durbin Statement on US-Japan Open Skies Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today after U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Ray LaHood, announced that the United States and Japan had reached an Open-Skies aviation agreement. "The Open-Skies agreement with Japan will prove to be a huge benefit to U.S. businesses and consumers alike. Expanded air service between Chicago and Japan will give U.S. air travelers greater access to Asian markets, increase choices for co… Continue Reading
12.09.09
Durbin Statement on Springfield Rail Agreement
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today released the following statement after learning that the Illinois Department of Transportation, the City of Springfield and Sangamon County have come to an agreement on how to move forward with high speed rail in Springfield. "I commend Mayor Davlin, Chairman Van Meter and Secretary Hannig for working tirelessly over the past few months to reach today's agreement. Finding a solution was not easy, but by bringing … Continue Reading
12.09.09
Durbin, Hoyer Announce Plan to Resolve Disputes with Terminated Auto Dealers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) today announced new legislative language to address the ongoing dispute between GM, Chrysler and dealerships that were closed during the companies' restructuring. The Durbin-Hoyer language expands the binding arbitration offer GM and Chrysler presented to dealers last week by requiring the arbitrator to balance the economic interests of the terminated dealership, the company … Continue Reading
12.09.09
Durbin: Committee Recommends More Than $126 Million in Funding for Illinois Projects
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the final Omnibus Appropriations Act which includes $126,432,544 in funding for several Illinois projects was approved by a joint House and Senate Conference Committee of which Durbin is a member. The House and Senate are expected to take up and pass the legislation before the end of the year. The bill will then go to the President for his signature. SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS: CHICAGO TRANSIT ($9,30… Continue Reading
12.02.09
Durbin Statement on Agreement Between GM and Groups Representing Closed Dealerships
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) released the following statement today applauding an agreement between GM, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) regarding the restructuring of GM's dealer network. Their announcement outlines a comprehensive and transparent review of termination decisions and formal reinstatement process should individual dealerships meet or exceed GM's dealer… Continue Reading
10.22.09
Durbin, Costello Announce New Carrier to Provide Air Servie to Downstate Communities
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congressman Jerry Costello (D-IL) today announced that two new air carriers will begin providing air service from three downstate Illinois communities to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport before the end of the year. Cape Air was awarded the Essential Air Service (EAS) contracts in Marion/Herrin and Quincy, while Air Choice One will serve Decatur. There will be no interruption in service during the transition to a … Continue Reading
10.21.09
Durbin Introduces Clean Cruise Ship Act to Protect Oceans, Marine Life and Great Lakes
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today introduced legislation to protect the oceans and marine life by extending the Clean Water Act to appropriately regulate the millions of gallons of wastewater discharged in U.S. waters every day by cruise ships. Durbin's bill, known as the Clean Cruise Ship Act would ban the release of raw, untreated sewage in U.S. waters, including the Great Lakes. Nearly identical legislation was introduced in the House of Represent… Continue Reading
10.14.09
Durbin Meets with DeKalb Mayor to Discuss Economic Development and Local Priorities
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with the Mayor of DeKalb, Kris Povlsen to discuss economic development, transportation issues and other local priorities. [Photo from today's meeting courtesy of Senator Durbin's office is attached (from left to right: Mayor Povlsen and Senator Durbin)]… Continue Reading
10.09.09
Durbin Announces More Than $1 Million in DOT Grants for Illinois Scenic Byways
[WASHINGTON, DC] - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $1,039,722 in grants to the Illinois Department of Transportation for the National Scenic Byways Program. Under the program, the U.S. Secretary of Transportation recognizes certain roads as National Scenic Byways or All-American Roads based on their archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and scenic qualities. There are 126 such designated Byways in… Continue Reading
10.05.09
Durbin Announces $13.6 Million in Funding for O'Hare Airport Security
[WASHINGTON, DC] - Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $13,600,000 grant to Chicago O'Hare International Airport for the construction of a new inline baggage handling system designed to enhance efforts to strengthen security at the airport. "Expanding the use of the inline baggage handling technology will strengthen security in Chicago and destinations around the country," said Durbin. "Bring… Continue Reading