Illinois Transportation Secretary Announces State to Receive $13.5 Million in Grants for Highway Projects

Federal Funding Expected to Create Jobs, Move Forward Important Construction Projects and Enhance Safety
 

SPRINGFIELD – August 9, 2012. Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider announced today that Illinois will receive $13.5 million in federal grants for highway projects. The funding was awarded last week by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to fund various highway projects ranging from interstate rehabilitation and reconstruction to safety technologies. The goal of the funding is to improve safety and reduce congestion nationwide.

“We are grateful recipients of these much needed transportation funds to get even more construction projects underway,” said Secretary Schneider. “We appreciate the continuous support by FHWA to provide opportunities like this giving us the means to create jobs, foster economic growth and improve safety in Illinois.”

Illinois was among other states, cities, tribal governments and local planning organizations invited by FHWA to apply for federal funding from 12 grant programs. Nearly 1,500 requests poured in from every state, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., totaling approximately $2.5 billion. A total of $363 million in grant funding was made available through enactment of the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II.

Among the 13 Illinois projects to benefit from the grant are:

• $2.2 million – Rail-Highway Crossing Hazard Elimination High Speed Rail Corridors – Project will construct a grade separated roadway and provide for the closure of a private crossing, closure of a pedestrian crossing, and diversion of traffic from a public crossing in Williamsville.
• $3.3 million – I-57 Reconstruction Project – Project will reconstruct 8.7 miles of pavement in Union and Pulaski Counties to upgrade the roadway to new safety standards and improve the riding surface of the high-volume truck area.
• $715, 118 – Value Pricing Pilot Program/Peer to Peer Car Sharing – This project will explore the use of private vehicles rented by owners on an hourly basis as a strategy to increase consumer commuting choice in combination with traditional car sharing in Chicago, called I-Go Car Share. The goal is to reduce vehicle ownership by offering more vehicles at different price points in neighborhoods already served by car sharing and to also expand car sharing into new neighborhoods.

These projects were authorized by Congress to support projects that improve roadway safety, maintain the nation’s roads and bridges and make communities more livable.

For a complete list of FY 12 grants, click on the link titled FHWA FY12 Discretionary Grant List on www.dot.il.gov/.