Durbin, Duckworth Announce $87 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Rail System Improvements

Durbin, Duckworth Announce $87 Million In Federal Funding For Illinois Rail System Improvements

CHICAGO - U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced $87,078,200 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program for four rail infrastructure improvement projects across Illinois.

"Illinois holds a unique position as the converging point for railroads that cross our nation," said Durbin. "This significant federal investment will ensure our state remains not just a crossroads, but a thriving nexus that efficiently connects people, goods, and ideas. I'm proud to have helped bring local officials, the State, and other stakeholders together to improve our rail network for passengers in Illinois and throughout the Midwest."

"Illinois is a national epicenter of passenger, commuter and freight rail, and improving rail service and reliability across the Midwest is critically important," Duckworth said. "I'm proud to see these significant federal investments coming to our region to help make it easier, faster, safer and more efficient for people and goods to get where they need to go. I'll keep working with Senator Durbin to ensure that our state and region are receiving the federal resources they deserve to remain a national leader in the transportation sector."

Recipients of CRISI funding include:

• OmniTRAX Holdings Combined, Inc. - Yard Area Rail Decongestion and Safety Project ($40,955,000)
• Iowa Interstate Railroad, LLC - Bridge Replacements in Iowa and Illinois to Develop Green Energy and Safety ($29,883,200)
• Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission - Invest Midwest: The Future of Midwest Passenger Rail-Phase 1 ($1,840,000)
• National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) - Mechanical Craft Workforce Development Apprenticeship Training Program ($14,400,000)

CRISI grants are funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to expand and improve passenger rail. Last week, Durbin and Duckworth announced that the Springfield Rail Improvements Project would receive $157,126,494 in CRISI grant funding for its final segment.

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