Senate Passes Long-Term Transportation Bill: $10 Billion for Illinois

Statement

U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today applauded the passage of a long-term transportation bill that includes Kirk-driven reforms to unlock an underutilized program for Chicago's Union Station.

The Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, the first long-term transportation bill passed by Congress in a decade, invests more than $10 billion in Illinois infrastructure over five years, including $7.5 billion for roads and $3 billion for public transit. The bill passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 83 to 16 after passing the House 359 to 65 and is on its way to the President's desk.

Unlocks Low-Interest Loans for Union Station Rehab

Senator Kirk successfully fought for key reforms to the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program, allowing the City of Chicago to access these underutilized, low-interest federal loans that can help finance the Union Station rehabilitation project.

"By unlocking access to this underutilized federal loan, Chicago can unlock the potential of Union Station," Senator Kirk said. "I wanted these changes in the law to maximize local investments and improve the rail system in Illinois."

"Senator Kirk, a long time champion of infrastructure investment, worked to secure key reforms in the transportation bill that will help make rail stations safer and better able to meet the demands of the future," Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said. "Thanks to his work to modernize the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program, more than $35 billion will be available for projects, like the plan to renovate Chicago's Union Station, that will support regional economic growth, development and jobs."

The RRIF program was established in 1998 to spur investment in rail projects, but the FRA has only issued 5 percent of the $35 billion available due to restrictive eligibility requirements and bureaucratic red tape. Senator Kirk identified roadblocks preventing Transit Oriented Development projects like the redevelopment of Union Station from accessing RRIF financing. Senator Kirk authored the necessary reforms that passed in the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously in June. The FAST Act includes these key reforms to bring greater economic development to Union Station.

Provides Long-Term Investment in Infrastructure

The FAST Act provides long-term certainty in transportation planning and significant growth for road and transit funding. It includes $7.5 billion for Illinois roads -- an average of $1.5 billion per year, which is an increase of 10 percent over 2015 levels -- as well as $3 billion for public transit in Illinois, an increase of 11 percent from current levels.

"Making long-term investments in our infrastructure will ensure Illinois' position as the nation's transportation hub," Senator Kirk said. "Investing in our road, rail, and transit infrastructure will reduce road congestion, make travel more efficient, ensure our exporters can ship Illinois products to markets around the world, and boost our economy."

Long-term funding for our surface transportation system is key to reducing the backlog of transportation improvement projects and upgrading our deteriorating roadways, which the American Society for Engineers (ASCE) has estimated cost Illinois motorists $3.7 billion annually in additional vehicle repairs and operational costs.

Expedites Funding for CTA Modernization

Senator Kirk's bill S. 1734, the Expedite Transit Act, which will expand local transit agencies' access to a federal transportation financing program, was included in the FAST Act. The Kirk-authored provisions will make the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) eligible for the streamlined financing program for rail improvement projects such as the Red and Purple Lines Modernization as long as the agency is making "substantial progress" toward achieving a state of good repair.

Renews Export-Import Bank to Support Illinois Jobs

The FAST Act includes Senator Kirk's bipartisan legislation to reopen the Export-Import Bank, which supports more than 244 Illinois small businesses and more than 200,000 American jobs. The Export-Import Reform and Reauthorization Act, S. 819, which Senator Kirk introduced in March with Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D), reauthorizes the Bank's charter until September 30, 2019, increases small business lending, supports American jobs and minimizes risk to taxpayers by enhancing bank oversight. Since the Bank's charter expired in June, Senator Kirk has worked tirelessly with his colleagues in the Senate and House to pass his reauthorization legislation.

"We brought the Export-Import Bank back to life, so American manufacturers and workers can compete against our foreign competitors on a level playing field," Senator Kirk said. "We should ship goods, not jobs, overseas. Thanks to Senators Heitkamp, Blunt, Graham and Ayotte for working with me for over a year on this legislation to save American jobs."

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