Downstate transit agencies receive $113.8 million in Rebuild Illinois funds

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) awarded a combined $113.8 million to downstate transit agencies in the third round of funding through Rebuild Illinois, a program signed into law in 2019 that will provide $33.2 billion over six years to the state’s transportation system, including $355.9 million for downstate transit agencies.

This round of funding will benefit 44 projects at 32 transit providers. The first round of funding of the competitive grants provided $112.5 million to 31 downstate transit entities, and the second round provided $111.4 million to 37 agencies.

"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,” said Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

The third round of grants was celebrated in Decatur, Ill., which received a combined $5.89 million for three projects that will expand and improve the city’s transit campus, install solar panels on a bus barn and replace older vehicles with hybrids.

"We can't thank Gov. Pritzker and IDOT enough for the state's investment in public transportation in Decatur," said Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe. "We are excited to continue transforming our transit campus to support new alternative-fuel technologies and the next generation of public transportation."

IDOT says the projects that received funds provide more transportation options in downstate communities and promote an enhanced quality of life. The projects include the purchase of new vehicles, construction of bus shelters, stations and maintenance facilities and technology upgrades.

Some of the larger and smaller awards went to:

• Rockford Mass Transit District, which received $16.66 million for a transit facility rehabilitation, renovation and expansion project.
• St. Clair County Transit District, which received $10.87 million for the electrification of transit vehicles with supporting charging stations.
• Rock Island County Metro Mass Transit District (MetroLink), which received a combined $10.35 million for four projects including renovations and upgrades for its mechanical and HVAC systems, expanding its operations and maintenance center, purchasing electric car chargers and replacing six buses with zero-emission buses.
• Sangamon Mass Transit District, which received a combined $10.95 million for three projects, including a new bus barn and office, a new secondary transfer center and to perform facility repairs and expansion.
• Shawnee Mass Transit, which received $24,000 for its training facility.
• Stateline Mass Transit District, which received $47,251 to fund the purchase of a bus shelter, garbage can, bike rack, bicycle repair maintenance station and installation and pad for transport hub in south Beloitt.
• City of Ottawa, which received $65,000 to expand its mobile vehicle surveillance system.

"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."

A full list of transit grant recipients can be viewed by visiting IDOT's Public Transportation Providers page.