Mike on the Move

For generations, this country’s infrastructure served as the backbone of our economic success. We dreamed big, we built bigger, and our economy flourished. Today, our crumbling infrastructure is slowing economic growth and hurting our ability to create jobs. Over the past 50 years, as a share of our economy, our investment in transportation has shrunk in half. State and local governments are being forced to cut back on their construction projects. Private sector companies are being forced to stop hiring workers and invest in capital. Without serious transportation investments, we will not be able to compete in today’s global economy.

I became an appropriator to help bring much needed funding back to my city and my state, set our country’s funding priorities, and help plan for the future. In August 2014, I launched my “Mike on the Move” initiative to highlight how the federal government can support Chicago transportation and infrastructure. From CTA modernization projects and construction on major roads like Mannheim, to pedestrian friendly projects like the 606 Trail and divided bike lanes, I want to show how vital infrastructure and transportation is to Chicago and the United States’ economic future.

As the only Illinois member serving on the House Appropriation Committee, I have advocated for a long-term surface transportation bill and prioritized Chicago-area infrastructure investments. As a member of the subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related agencies (THUD), I’m driving federal dollars back to Chicago to help transportation agencies like the Chicago Transit Authority, Metra, PACE, the Chicago Department of Transportation, and the Illinois Department of Transportation fund vital infrastructure projects that will increase capacity, improve safety, and relieve congestion in our region.  

Long-term investments in infrastructure produce long-lasting increases in our economy. Therefore, investment by the federal government is vital to transform our streets, highways, trains, and trails into sustainable modes of future growth.

Roads

Rep. Quigley toured the UPS Chicago Area Consolidation Hub (CACH) wtih senior leadership in Hodgkins, IL. (August 2016)

Rep. Quigley toured Pace, the largest U.S. provider of paratransit service, 301 suburban bus route with Pace Executive Director TJ Ross. (March 2016)

Rep. Quigley toured a multimodal transportation project designed to ease road and rail congestion in Bensenville, Illinois with Administrator Feinberg of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), leaders of the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).(October 2015)

Rep. Quigley visited three road projects under construction in the western part of the Fifth District with engineers from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). (October 2014)

Trails

Rep. Quigley explored the newly opened 606 Trail along the Bloomingdale Rail Line with the Trust for Public Land, to see completed and future projects. (August 2015)

Rep. Quigley toured the construction of the 606 Trail with Beth White, Chicago Regional Director for The Trust for Public Land. (October 2014)

Rep. Quigley took a seven mile bike tour to view new completed pedestrian and bike infrastructure projects in Chicago along with several problem spots in need of additional improvements where existing conditions create safety or barrier issues to walking and biking. (September 2014)

Rails

Rep. Quigley met with Chicago Terminal Railroad Officails and toured Chicago's Terminal Short Linke Railroad in Elk Grove Village. (June 2016)

Rep. Quigley toured Metra’s 49th Street facility to view the installation of Positive Train Control (PTC) safety technology and discuss the looming congressionally mandated deadline for implementation. (September 2015)

Rep. Quigley traveled with Amtrak from Chicago’s Union Station through Indiana and into Michigan to better understand regional rail congestion issues. The tour included a visit to the 75th Street Corridor Improvement Project, the largest component of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) program, which will help reduce the daily delays Amtrak, Metra and freight trains face in the Chicagoland region. (January 2015)

Rep Quigley toured Metra’s century-old switching tower and viewed the upgrades being made to Metra passenger cars through the Amerail passenger car rehabilitation project. (September 2014)

Rep. Quigley visited several Red, Brown, and Purple line stations with leaders from the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) to view the infrastructure improvements being made to improve passenger service through the Red and Purple Modernization Project. (August 2014)