Transportation & Infrastructure

In order to remain competitive in the global marketplace we must invest in our nation’s infrastructure. Improvements are needed to highways, bridges, mass transit, water and sewer treatment, railroads, airports, river navigation and our electrical grid. These investments not only provide a level playing field for American manufacturing and agriculture to compete, but also good-paying construction jobs.

Mass Transit:
Mass transit is an important piece of our transportation infrastructure. I secured federal funding for a new maintenance facility for the Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District to respond to increased ridership and expanded routes, creating a more efficient system ready to serve the future needs of the Quad Cities. I am also a strong proponent of re-establishing Amtrak service between the Quad Cities and Chicago. This route would decrease the congestion and deterioration of the highway systems and provide an energy efficient alternative to automobile travel.

Highway Improvement:
There are several highway projects in our region that are high priorities. Completing the 4-lane expansion of Highway 34 from Burlington, IA to Monmouth, IL would complete a key East-West corridor for commercial traffic and stimulate economic development in West Central Illinois. Extending Highway 336 from Macomb to Peoria would provide an additional transportation corridor from Missouri to Chicago. Improvements to Highway 67, Highway 30 and to the Brighton to Bunker Hill Road would provide important transportation improvements to the surrounding communities.

Quad Cities Airport:
I am proud to have secured more than $7 million for improvements to the Quad City International Airport – a $1.3 million grant to expand the Airport’s access road for additional parking to accommodate increased airport traffic; and $5.7 million in grants to improve runway safety. These improvements will allow for more flights, fewer delays and improved service.

Clean Water/Wastewater Infrastructure:
The single biggest infrastructure priority for most communities is safe drinking water and wastewater treatment. The increased cost of compliance with clean water and environmental standards have left many communities wondering how to address these problems. I will continue to work with communities to identify sources of funding to assist in providing this core piece of infrastructure. I support full funding of revolving loan programs and USDA Rural Development programs. These programs provide funding for necessary infrastructure.

Bridge Reconstruction and Modernization:
I voted for the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act which would implement stronger safety standards and more frequent inspections for bridges along the National Highway System. The bill authorizes more than $30 million for the reconstruction of the 46 bridges in West Central Illinois that are structurally deficient—creating thousands of good-paying construction jobs in the process.

In the wake of the June 2008 flooding, I also co-sponsored an amendment, which passed unanimously, calling on the Secretary of Transportation to study the risks posed by a “500-year” flood to bridges on the National Highway System and other public roads. This provision will improve public safety and ensure minimal devastation from floods in the future.

I have been fighting for federal funding to expand and modernize the I-74 Bridge in the Quad Cities, which is functionally obsolete. The completion of this project will facilitate increased and more efficient movement of people and goods to employment centers, entertainment venues, and commercial and industrial sites in the Quad Cities. The Illinois Department of Transportation has indicated that the federal funds from the National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act would free up the agency to focus on the I-74 span.

Locks and Dams:
The Mississippi River transports $12 billion worth of products every year, impacting agricultural, commercial, and labor interests across the state. I voted for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a bill that included critical updates to seven locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Currently, Brazil has a three-day head start over the U.S. when it comes to shipping products because our transportation infrastructure is falling apart. Modernizing and improving our locks and dams is critical to our global competitiveness and I am committed to finding the funding we need to do the work authorized in WRDA.

Army Corps of Engineers:
I am fighting to make sure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers receives full funding for operations and maintenance as well as the Navigation & Environmental Sustainability Program (NESP). The President’s budget has underfunded both of these programs which are vital to keeping river traffic moving.

Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan:
The Upper Mississippi River Comprehensive Plan was developed in response to the great flood of 1993. The plan calls for building 100-year levels of protection for agricultural areas and 500-year levels for critical infrastructure such as water treatment plants, roads, and bridges.

The serious flooding along the Upper Mississippi Valley in June 2008 demonstrated yet again the need to take action on flood control to protect lives, property and local economies. The Comprehensive Plan will increase public safety and provide economic growth throughout West Central Illinois. It will create jobs, protect our critical transportation infrastructure, and ultimately save lives, which is why I am working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the drainage and levee districts in our region, and my Congressional colleagues to get the authorization and funding we need to implement this plan. After two major floods in the last 15 years, it is time to focus on flood protection and prevention, not just cleanup.