Rush Joins Funding Fight

Thelma Sardin |

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (1st District) joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski during a press conference to discuss their plan to fight for a $133 million federal grant to fund the Englewood Flyover, a cornerstone of the CREATE rail modernization initiative.

The programs funding has been removed in the House of Representatives spending bill for the current fiscal year (FY11), which was recently approved along party lines. The bill cuts more than $6.8 billion in transportation spending to states and communities which have already been guaranteed funding. The removal of funding for the Englewood Flyover project will cost as many as 1,450 Chicagoland jobs if the bill becomes law. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.

Durbin believes that the proposed budget is not cognizant of the countrys current economic situation.

This mindless cut is a clear signal that the House-passed bill is not the product of a thoughtful effort. Yes, we need to cut spending, but we need to do so in a responsible manner, Durbin said.

Lipinski sees the Flyover as an investment in Americas future.

I believe that the national debt is a threat to Americas long-term economic health and that we need to cut unnecessary spending to assure our future prosperity, said Lipinski. But we cant cut with our eyes closed; we must continue to make investments that are critical for the future of our nation, especially our middle class.

Rush says that from the inception of the CREATE program, he has been an ardent supporter and thinks its a vital public infrastructure program to help relieve the burdensome freight rail congestion in the Chicago area.

Completion of the Englewood Flyover will also reduce delays for Amtrak riders and shorten commutes on Metras Rock Island line, in addition to enabling the elimination of delays on the Southwest Service line. Approximately 78 Metra trains and 14 Amtrak trains, in addition to heavy freight rail traffic, pass through the crossing every day.

According to Rush, the Englewood flyover is the first of three CREATE projects to be built in the area. The other two include the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project and the Grand Crossing Project, but the Flyover must be built and in operation before the remaining two can get underway.

CREATE is a great example of the type of investment that government should make in its citizens. Our state and local government officials understand this, officials in the rail industry understand it, Sen. Durbin, Rep. Lipinski and I understand it. Now we must double our efforts to make sure Republicans in Washington understand it, Rush said.

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