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Transportation
PI Original
by Adam Doster
2:11pm
Thu Jun 25, 2009
1 comment

Local Transit Advocates Cautiously Endorse New Transportation Bill

Transportation

House Transportation Committee and its chairman Rep. Jim Oberstar unveiled the first draft of a new transportation spending bill on Monday. We take a look at what it could mean for Illinois.

PI Original
by Josh Kalven
2:58pm
Thu Jun 4, 2009
3 comments

Biden Blesses Midwest Rail Plan

Joe Biden

We've written a good deal this year about the Midwest high-speed rail (HSR) network being pushed by regional governors, as well as congressional leaders like Sen. Dick Durbin.  The plan largely hinges on snagging a decent chunk of the $8 billion set aside for HSR as ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
12:16pm
Thu May 21, 2009
1 comment

Capital Bill Makes Inroads

State Legislature

Yesterday, the Illinois Senate overwhelmingly approved an
almost $29 billion capital construction program, the first major
bi-partisan legislative initiative to move through Springfield in some
time. The program, if passed by the House and approved by Gov. Pat
Quinn...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
12:40pm
Thu May 14, 2009

Rebalancing The State's Road Formula

State Legislature

Politics, not population or need, often determine how surface
transportation projects get funded in Illinois. This point was made
quite clear yesterday when the General Assembly's Legislative Research
Unit unveiled a new report
-- requested by state Sen. Martin ...

PI Original
by Progress Illinois
4:38pm
Fri May 8, 2009

Baby Steps Towards High-Speed Rail

Transportation

Some good news for supporters of developing a high-speed rail line between Chicago and St. Louis: The Illinois Department of Transportation today secured an agreement from Union Pacific to conduct a study "that will examine upgrades needed to accommodate faster ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
4:55pm
Fri May 1, 2009

More From Springfield: The Big Ticket Items

State Legislature

Earlier today, we recapped
which pieces of progressive legislation were moving forward in
Springfield. But what about Gov. Quinn's two big ticket items: a
2010 budget and a capital construction plan? With a May 31 scheduled
session deadline, have lawmakers made any ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
4:26pm
Thu Apr 30, 2009

Our Ailing Rails

Transportation

On Tuesday, Crain's Greg Hinz reported that after signing a $3 billion mini-capital bill earlier this month for roads and public transit work, Gov. Pat Quinn's office had strangely agreed to release only money for roads. The dispute revolved around bonds -- Quinn's ...

PI Original
by Josh Kalven
12:17pm
Wed Apr 22, 2009

Sen. Sandoval Endorses An Alternative Capital Plan

Infrastructure

Last Friday, State Sen. Martin Sandoval and State Rep. Julie Hamos -- chairs of the House and Senate transportation committees -- took a group of lawmakers, transit officials, and reporters for a tour of the Chicagoland region's mass transit system. From a Metra station in ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
10:51am
Wed Apr 15, 2009

Midwestern Governors Pressing For High-Speed Rail Funds

Pat Quinn

Governors from across the Midwest are coordinating their efforts to bring commuter rail
improvements to the region and it's great to see. Having already joined Sen. Dick Durbin in
a public pitch for stimulus funds set aside for high speed rail development, Gov. Pat ...