November 16, 2021

Duckworth, Durbin Announce $13.5 Million For Springfield Rail Improvement Project

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the City of Springfield has been awarded $13.5 million in federal funding for the Springfield Rail Improvement Project, which will alleviate rail congestion and improve safety. Today’s investment, awarded through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) RAISE grant program, will support new underpasses at Madison and Jefferson Streets along the new Transportation Center. The project will significantly reduce car and train accidents, alleviate rail crossing delays, and improve quality of life for residents by eliminating train horn noise.

“This infusion of federal funding to the City of Springfield will help upgrade a critical link in our state’s rail network and help improve reliability and safety for both rail and roadway users,” said Duckworth. “I’ll keep working with Senator Durbin to make sure Springfield and other communities all across Illinois receive the federal support they need to create good-paying jobs, ensure safer transit and improve infrastructure in every corner of our state.”

“The Springfield Rail Improvement Project is dramatically changing downtown Springfield by reducing rail congestion, creating jobs, and improving safety for passengers, drivers, and pedestrians. It’s a perfect example of federal dollars making our community better,” Durbin said. “I've been proud to work with Senator Duckworth to bring home much needed federal support for this project and will continue advocating for strong investments in Illinois’ transportation infrastructure.”

Yesterday, President Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the most significant investment in our transportation infrastructure in decades. Along with providing $17 billion to Illinois, this historic legislation will lead to more funding opportunities for projects like the Springfield Rail Improvement Project and other federal grants to improve transit, highways, bridges, airports, broadband, and water infrastructure.

Duckworth and Durbin have helped secure more than $75 million in federal funding for the overall Springfield Rail Improvement Project since it began in 2014, including a $10 million Federal Railroad Administration grant last year. 

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