Issue Position: Transportation

Issue Position

Congressman Lipinski is the only Chicago-area member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and has helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars for critical transportation projects in the Third District and the surrounding area. He recently worked successfully to obtain a $100 million federal grant that will eliminate delays for motorists and freight trains on 71st Street in Bridgeview near Toyota Park; reduce the time motorists in La Grange, La Grange Park, and nearby areas spend waiting for trains to pass on the Indiana Harbor Belt Railway line; and reconstruct the crumbling railroad viaduct at 29th Street and Stewart Avenue in Bridgeport. All of these projects are part of the CREATE Rail Modernization Program, for which Congressman Lipinski is a leading advocate. He is also leading the effort to build the Central Avenue Bypass, having worked with state leaders to secure $60 million for the project, bringing the total amount of funding that has been set aside to $170 million. The Congressman played a key role in establishing two long-awaited railroad quiet zones to stop trains from sounding their horns at all hours while preserving pedestrian and motorist safety. Quiet zones now cover the Canadian National tracks in Riverside, North Riverside, and Berwyn, as well as the Cicero Avenue and 95th Street crossings on Metra's Southwest Service line in Oak Lawn. By working with Metra, Congressman Lipinski was recently able to add weekend service to the Southwest line. He has repeatedly called for quick passage of a new multi-year transportation bill to fund vital infrastructure projects and create jobs. As a member of the Transportation Committee's Aviation Subcommittee, Congressman Lipinski has pushed to require airlines to reimburse checked-baggage fees when luggage is delayed or lost, called for tougher regulations to prevent lengthy tarmac delays, and helped secure over $16 million for runway improvements at Midway Airport -- which is part of the Third District -- to enhance the safety of passengers and area residents.

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