Issue Position: Transportation

Issue Position

Issue Position: Transportation

As a member of the Senate Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee, I recognize the importance of a dependable transportation infrastructure to a strong national economy. Moreover, I understand that Illinois operates as the nation's transportation hub. Chicago's O'Hare International consistently ranks as one of the world's busiest airports, the nation's freight rail carriers converge in Illinois, and the state's highway system serves as the crossroads of America.

To maintain the state's status as the nation's transportation epicenter, I have secured federal funding for numerous transportation projects throughout every region of Illinois. For every $1 billion spent on transportation infrastructure, it is estimated that 24,000 new jobs are supported. Through continued efforts to increase federal transportation funding for Illinois, I am committed to the creation of thousands of new jobs for Illinois families.

Downstate Air Service

O'Hare may be Illinois' largest and busiest airport, but the state's other airports provide critical access to markets and travel destinations across the state and country. I have been particularly dedicated to ensuring that the federal government maintains its commitment to promoting air service in downstate Illinois.

Through my support of the Essential Air Service Program, I have worked to guarantee that small communities in Illinois are served by quality airlines and that those airports offer commercial service to their communities. I have pushed for increased utilization of the Northwest Chicagoland International Airport at Rockford and construction of an airport in Chicago's south suburbs. I have also worked to secure federal grants to rehabilitate the Decatur airport. I will continue fighting to maintain the integrity of airports in every corner of the state.

O'Hare Modernization

O'Hare International Airport is one of the most significant airports in the world. It provides vital air service to and from the nation's third largest metropolitan area and serves as the hub for two of the world's largest airlines, American and United. Unfortunately, the world's busiest airport is also the nation's most delayed airport.

When there are delays at O'Hare, the national aviation system suffers. I have advocated for a strong federal role in making the O'Hare Modernization Project the long'term solution to this problem and have secured a strong federal funding commitment. The modernization of O'Hare can ease the capacity, congestion, and delay problems in our national aviation system, guaranteeing that our airspace remains safe, efficient, and effective.

Amtrak

A recent recipient of The National Association of Railroad Passengers' Golden Spike Award, I have been a long-time advocate for passenger rail. I am committed to fully funding and expanding Amtrak in Illinois, maintaining Amtrak service throughout the nation, and increasing the usage of Amtrak by the American people.

Ridership on Amtrak trains in Illinois has seen phenomenal growth in the past few years, with all three state routes showing double digit percentage increases. These numbers show that Illinoisans, like many Americans, want quick, cost-effective, and reliable public ground transportation system, and Amtrak now provides that to 30 communities and 3 million people.

I have fought Bush Administration's efforts to cut and privatize Amtrak rail service. I have made progress expanding service in Illinois, including advancing the goal of beginning new service from Chicago to Rockford, Illinois' third largest city.

By investing in passenger rail, we're meeting a growing demand for reliable alternatives to driving and flying, relieving congestion on our highways and increasing economic activity along rail routes.

Commercial Rail

With rail infrastructure spanning 16,000 acres, Northeastern Illinois is now the largest and busiest intermodal hub in the nation and the fifth largest worldwide. One third of the nation's rail freight shipments pass through Chicago. Congestion in Chicago's rail freight network is bad and getting worse. Moving freight across the region by rail takes two days or more at an average speed of nine miles per hour. If capacity problems are not addressed, Chicago stands to lose an estimated $2 billion in annual production and 17,000 jobs in the next two decades. I am focused on maintaining Illinois' status as one of the world's busiest commercial rail corridors and will work to promote and improve a fully developed rail network in Illinois and the nation.

I believe one vital component of relieving the rail bottleneck in Illinois is the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program. CREATE is a first-of-its-kind partnership between the federal government, the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Metra and the nation's freight railroads. The partners together will invest $1.5 billion in critically needed improvements to increase the efficiency of the region's rail infrastructure. With these investments we will be able to reduce rail and motorist congestion, improve passenger rail service, enhance public safety, promote economic development, improve air quality and create jobs in Illinois.

Public Transit

Our public transportation system is integral not only to the Chicago metropolitan area, but to the state as a whole. I have helped bring federal investment to communities across Illinois to upgrade buses, roads, and related facilities. I have worked to secure funding for the upgrade of the CTA Brown and Blue Lines, and the extension of several Metra routes in and around Chicago. I have also secured federal dollars and investment into the CTA Circle Line and commuter extension to Rockford. Additionally, I have been a supporter of the Multimodal Transportation Center in Normal, a facility on the cutting edge of smart planning, utilizing many modes of transportation to maximize efficient travel and reduce costs related to congestion. I will continue to work to take more cars off our streets, reduce pollution, and give commuters more affordable travel options.

Congestion on the Roadways

Chicago has the second longest average commute time in the country behind New York, a reality which has begun to impact quality of life and the economic well-being of the region and the state. Residents in northeastern Illinois are experiencing 5.5 times more travel delays than 20 years ago. Metropolitan Chicago residents spend 253 million hours a year in traffic delays, wasting over 150 million gallons of fuel due to traffic congestion, at a cost of nearly $5 billion annually.

Congestion in Chicago increases the cost of travel by increasing the time of travel. Trucks sitting on the expressways mean lower profits and ultimately fewer jobs for businesses that depend on free-flowing transportation.

I have worked to secure funding for projects that relieve congestion on our roadways and give commuters better options. I have helped bring significant federal dollars for improvements to Wacker Drive in Chicago, increased access to I-57/64, the widening of Route 30 and Route 31, and many other roads and bridges in Illinois. I will continue to work on future projects that address critical highway, bridge, and mass transit needs in Illinois, making roadway travel more comfortable, safe and secure.

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