Transportation

I strongly believe that maintaining an efficient, multi-modal transportation system is critical to regional and national economic growth. Toward this end, I have made transportation issues a top priority and have played a leadership role in major projects such as MetroLink and the new Mississippi River Bridge. As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and current Chairman of the Aviation Subcommittee, I have been instrumental in enacting national policy relating to all modes of transportation.

Last year, I co-authored legislation to reauthorize the funding and programs of the Federal Aviation Administration. This bill, H.R. 2881, which passed the House of Representatives last September and is awaiting consideration in the Senate, contains historic levels of funding to enhance the safety programs and other functions of the FAA. The bill also has a major emphasis on aviation consumer issues.

Similarly, the last highway bill, passed in July 2005, allocated $286.4 billion to meet the needs of our highways, bridges and transit systems. The bill resulted in a significant increase in highway spending for the State of Illinois over the next five years, an average of $309.15 million annually, or 33.4% per year over the previous level of funding, enabling IDOT to address critical road and bridge projects in the state.

As part of that legislation, I was successful in securing $150 million in funding for the new Mississippi River Bridge as part of this legislation.  The bridge project will receive $239 million in total federal funding, with Senators Durbin, Obama and Bond securing the other $89 million.  This funding was included in a section of the bill for projects of regional and national significance, or “mega-projects.”

This year I have also continued to push for increased investment in maintaining our transportation infrastructure as part of economic stimulus efforts. Funding projects that can be let within 90 days will provide thousands of good-paying jobs while creating economic assets that reduce congestion and make our transportation system more efficient.

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