Quigley, Durbin, Duckworth, Members of Illinois Delegation Announce $15.8 Million for Chicago Transit Authority

U.S. Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Jesus “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Danny Davis (D-IL-07) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation will receive $15,805,600 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for improvements to the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) Forest Park Branch. This track modernization project will lead to increased service reliability, speed, and environmental resiliency. 

“When public transportation is unreliable or inefficient, it disrupts the daily lives of countless Chicagoans. We have the solutions to keep things moving, and now it’s time to put them into practice. Today's funding is a positive development. It will assist us in transforming an area burdened by congestion and delays and finally establish an environment that allows commuters to reach their destinations safely and on time,” said Rep. Quigley.

“Robust and reliable public transit is crucial for Chicagoans,” said Senator Durbin. “Today’s announced funding will allow for an efficient travel alternative in an area where congestion makes getting around more difficult. I’ll keep working with Senator Duckworth and members of the Illinois Delegation to do all that we can to help improve transit development and access for all Chicagoans.” 

“No matter their zip code, Chicagoans deserve efficient public transit to get to school, get to work and more easily move throughout the city,” Senator Duckworth said. “I’m proud to see today’s funding go toward modernizing the CTA’s Forest Park operations, including increasing service reliability, speed and protecting against the effects of climate change. I’ll keep working with Senator Durbin and the Illinois delegation to ensure that our communities are receiving the much-needed federal resources they deserve.”

 “As a Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and co-founder of the Future of Transportation Caucus, investing in reliable, accessible public transit is one of my top priorities,” said Rep. García. “The funds announced today by DOT and the improvements to CTA’s Forest Park Branch will contribute to improving service for Chicagoans and easing congestion in the area.”

"Investing in our public transit infrastructure is crucial to ensuring that Chicago remains a vibrant, accessible city for all its residents. This funding for the CTA's Forest Park Branch will not only improve service and efficiency but also promote sustainability and economic growth across our communities. I am proud to work alongside my colleagues in securing these essential federal resources that will benefit the people of Chicago and the surrounding areas,” said Rep. Davis.

“From day one, my administration has prioritized the modernization of our state’s existing infrastructure and transportation system,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Thanks to the Congestion Relief Program and the support from our federal, state, and local partners, we’re ready to build on our progress. With this funding, the I-290/IL 53 Bus on Shoulder Project will upgrade existing infrastructure to make daily commutes on one of our busiest corridors faster and cleaner for Illinoisans.”

“This latest federal award is another example of the tremendous teamwork happening to improve the Interstate 290 corridor across all modes of transportation,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Under the leadership of Gov. Pritzker, IDOT has been working closely with our federal and local partners to strengthen the safety and reliability of this crucial travel and freight artery for the region, improving the quality of life for everyone who lives along I-290 and relies on it.”

“This is a win for all involved. Thanks to the support of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, with this critical funding CTA can advance all necessary investigations and design documents for a complete modernization of the Forest Park Branch Blue Line,” said CTA President Dorval R. Carter, Jr. “These funds will help expedite our efforts to completely rebuild this branch of the Blue Line, which is largely original and dates back to 1958, and will allow us to focus our efforts on securing the funding needed to perform the work, which in turn will provide thousands of commuters with a safer, faster and more reliable transit– all while helping ease the congestion that impacts those living and working along this corridor.”

Quigley and his colleagues have previously pushed for federal funding for CTA improvement projects, having secured $746 million for the CTA Red Line Extension Project.