Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Call On DOT, FRA To Extend Federal Funding For Chicago-Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project

Durbin, Duckworth, Sorensen Call On DOT, FRA To Extend Federal Funding For Chicago-Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project

The lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink asking them to extend federal funding, which will expire on July 31, for the rail project

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink urging them to grant an extension for the remaining federal funding previously secured for the proposed Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, an Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, Illinois. In their letter, the lawmakers emphasized that the rail line, which Durbin has been advocating for since 2010, could finally move forward as long as the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) extends the availability of previously granted federal funds beyond the upcoming deadline of July 31, 2026.

"We are writing to urge the Department of Transportation and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to issue an extension for the federal funding previously secured for the Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, the remainder of which is set to expire on July 31, 2026. If these federal funds originally promised to the project are extended, the project is-at long last-able to become a reality," the lawmakers began their letter.

The lawmakers emphasized that state project partners-including the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS)-are in lockstep on the project after years of negotiation. The lawmakers called on USDOT and FRA to extend the project's funding so the rail line can finally move forward after more than a decade of planning.

"For the first time since USDOT and FRA first awarded the project $177M in federal funding in Fiscal Year 2010, it is ready to proceed, and we cannot squander this opportunity. Not only are the Illinois Department of Transportation and Iowa Interstate Railroad in agreement upon the scope, but they are moving in tandem with the other project partners, and the project is fully funded," the lawmakers continued their letter.

"The state, local, and rail partners are aligned, and we ask that USDOT and FRA meet this long-awaited moment by extending the remaining federal funding to finally bring the project to fruition. We also ask that you coordinate with IDOT and its partners to ensure any extension matches the State's projected timeline for the project," the lawmakers concluded their letter.

In 2010, Durbin secured $177 million in federal funding for the rail project. The rail line was delayed for years because former Governor Rauner refused to provide state funding for it. In 2019, Governor Pritzker renewed the state's commitment to the project by providing $225 million in state funding through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program. Recent enactment of the state's transit bill, along with other state funding sources, will provide the additional funding necessary for the project. Durbin has repeatedly secured extensions of the federal funding, but the current funding extension is set to expire on July 31, 2026, unless the Trump Administration approves another extension.

Earlier this week, Durbin met with IDOT Secretary Gia Biagi and IAIS CEO Joe Parsons to discuss the rail project.

A copy of the letter is available here and below:

June 11, 2026

Dear Secretary Duffy and Administrator Fink:

We are writing to urge the Department of Transportation (USDOT) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to issue an extension for the federal funding previously secured for the Chicago-Quad Cities passenger rail project, the remainder of which is set to expire on July 31, 2026. If these federal funds originally promised to the project are extended, the project is-at long last-able to become a reality.

For the first time since USDOT and FRA first awarded the project $177M in federal funding in Fiscal Year 2010, it is ready to proceed, and we cannot squander this opportunity. Not only are the Illinois Department of Transportation and Iowa Interstate Railroad in agreement upon the scope, but they are moving in tandem with the other project partners, and the project is fully funded. IDOT previously committed $225 million through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program. Further, recent enactment of the state's transit bill, the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act (Public Act 104-0457), along with other state funding sources, will provide the additional funding necessary for the project.

The state, local, and rail partners are aligned, and we ask that USDOT and FRA meet this long-awaited moment by extending the remaining federal funding to finally bring the project to fruition. We also ask that you coordinate with IDOT and its partners to ensure any extension matches the State's projected timeline for the project.

Thank you for your timely attention to this matter. Please reach out to our offices if you need any other information.

Sincerely,

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