Prairie State Wire

[CARBONDALE, IL] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today joined Amtrak and local leaders to break ground on the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station (SIMMS). Duckworth and Durbin helped secure a total of $18.3 million in federal funding for this project and have been long-time champions of the project. Photos from today’s event are available here.

“Projects like the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station are great examples of the multiplying effect federal resources can bring to bear on state and local infrastructure investments, the impact these federal resources can have on our communities, and the kinds of things we can do when all levels of government come together,” Duckworth said. These projects aren’t just about improving quality of life for Southern Illinois residents—though that would’ve been reason enough to give it the green light. They’re about helping Illinoisans travel our great state more easily and with fewer delays, creating more good-paying union jobs for local construction workers and improving access for all riders.”

“This project has been a long time coming.  Nearly four years ago, Senator Duckworth and I secured a $14 million BUILD grant to help take the Southern Illinois Multimodal Station from blueprints to today’s groundbreaking,” said Durbin.  “I’m pleased to see federal investments come home to Illinois, where they can truly make a difference in the lives of our state’s residents by positively impacting our regional economy, creating jobs, and improving connectivity across the state.” 

“Amtrak will invest more than $3 million constructing a new train platform, one-thousand feet long, with new lighting and fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act,” said Dr. David Handera, Amtrak Vice President of Stations, Facilities and Accessibility. “This money is coming from a special account to make our stations welcoming to everyone, federal funds we are gratefu to have from these outstanding U.S. Senators and others in Congress.”   

The Southern Illinois Multimodal Station (SIMMS) will serve as a connection point for Amtrak passenger rail, Greyhound bus service, mass transit service, bicyclists, pedestrians and more to allow safer, easier and more reliable connection and transit throughout the region.

Original source can be found here.