January 24, 2023 – Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation announced that $113.8 million has been awarded to downstate transit providers as part of the Rebuild Illinois capital program.
The funding brings the total investment in downstate transit via competitive grants to $337.8 million.
“I’m proud to announce the third round of Rebuild Illinois projects — 32 downstate transit partners both rural and urban — who will receive a total investment of nearly $114 million,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “This third round of grants will increase transportation options and create more good-paying jobs across downstate Illinois. Collectively under my administration, we’ve invested billions of dollars to revitalize downstate communities, more than any administration in Illinois history.”
Today’s announcement, made in Decatur to celebrate three awards that will help expand the city’s transit campus, install solar panels on a bus barn, and replace older vehicles with hybrids, represents the third round of competitive grants in Rebuild Illinois funding to invest in transit outside the Chicago area. Awards are supporting projects that include the purchase of new vehicles as well as the construction of bus shelters, plus stations and maintenance facilities that expand and improve service. The projects provide more transportation options in downstate communities and promote an enhanced quality of life.
“These awards to our transit systems will strengthen our status as a national leader in providing cost-effective public transportation that’s safe and accessible to everyone in our state,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman. “Through Rebuild Illinois, Gov. Pritzker and IDOT continue to improve the state’s transportation system by seeking out the best projects and getting our partners at the local level the resources they need to deliver them.”
“We can’t thank Governor Pritzker and IDOT enough for the state’s investment in public transportation in Decatur,” said Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe. “We are very excited to continue transforming our transit campus to support new alternative-fuel technologies and the next generation of public transportation.”
“Infrastructure investments are vital to expanding downstate transportation needs,” said State Senator Doris Turner. “We have seen remarkable improvements through the Rebuild Illinois capital program. Expanding Decatur’s transit campus, buying additional buses and installing solar panels on the bus barn will increase accessibility for residents to get around town.”
“Improving our infrastructure through the bus transit system will improve our community in so many ways,” said State Representative Sue Scherer. “From saving money on transportation costs to helping people reliably get to work on time, we look forward to this completion.”
