Lipinski Brings Former Speaker Hastert and Rep. Poshard
to Hear About Local Transportation Needs
Local Leaders Discuss the Need for Central Avenue Bypass and Railroad Underpasses

CHICAGO-On Monday, May 12, Congressman Dan Lipinski (3^rd) brought former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives J. Dennis Hastert (R) and former Congressman Glenn Poshard (D) to Bedford Park to hear from local leaders about the need for state funding for local transportation projects.  As Co-Chairs of the Illinois Works Coalition, Hastert and Poshard have been traveling around the state to hear about local infrastructure needs that could be funded by a state Capital Bill.

Daniel Lipinski, J. Dennis Hastert, and Glenn Poshard at the Round-Table Meeting

The top local transportation priorities discussed at the meeting by Rep. Lipinski and other local leaders were funding to continue the CREATE Rail Modernization Program and funding to implement ground breaking for the Central Avenue Bypass. 

"These two projects are vitally important to the Third District and the state," said Lipinski. "CREATE is desperately needed to ease congestion on our rail lines and on our roads; it will save time and money for motorists, and help speed passenger rail service.  And the Central Avenue Bypass is a long-needed solution to ease the congestion on Cicero and Harlem Avenues and promote economic growth." 

"The fact that the only meeting of Illinois Works in northeastern Illinois took place in the Third District demonstrates the fact that these transportation projects are of critical importance not only locally but to the state," said Lipinski. "I am hopeful that the state comes through with the needed funding so that when the federal transportation bill is considered in Congress next year I will be able to make the best case possible for bringing back to the district even more than the $126 million I secured in the last bill."  

Local leaders attending the meeting were State Senator Louis S. Viverito, 11^th District; State Representative Robert S. Molaro, 21^st District; Mayor David Brady, Village of Bedford Park; Mayor Steve Landek, Village of Bridgeview; Alderman Michael R. Zalewski, 23^rd Ward, Chicago; President Dennis Gannon, Chicago Federation of Labor; Clayton Harris, IDOT; President Anita Cummings, United Business Association of Midway; President Mary Ann Dybala, Garfield Ridge Chamber of Commerce; and Principal James Muting, St. Laurence High School.