Quigley Announces $65 Million Grant for O’Hare Runway Project

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05) announced a $65 million dollar grant has been awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation to the City of Chicago and the Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The funds will be applied to runway construction as part of the O'Hare Modernization Program (OMP).

"Modernizing Chicago O'Hare will ensure the airport remains one of the top travel and shipping hubs in the country," said Rep. Quigley. "Once finished, this project will generate up to 195,000 new jobs and add an additional $18 billion to our economy. It represents the type of major infrastructure investments we should make across the country to move America forward."

Infrastructure investment has played a vital role in America's economic recovery. The seven percent of Recovery Act funds invested in infrastructure accounted for 60% of the jobs saved or created. Further investments are still needed, as the American Society of Civil Engineers 2013 Report Card graded both America's and Illinois' overall infrastructure a D+.

Rep. Quigley serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, where he has made Chicago-area infrastructure investment a top priority as a member of the Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD). He recently spoke out against the FY14 T-HUD Appropriations bill for its drastic cuts to critical transportation and infrastructure programs and highlighted the need for these investment at a travel and tourism roundtable he held with U. S. Travel Association and local industry leaders.