March 17, 2023

Duckworth Meets with Madison County Mass Transit Leadership

 

[PONTOON BEACH, IL] – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) met with Madison County Mass Transit leadership to discuss how she and the officials can work together to ensure that the region can continue to deliver efficient, climate-friendly and ADA-accessible service to southern Illinoisans. During the meeting, Duckworth highlighted her work in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help create good-paying local jobs, help municipalities purchase new buses and railcars, address repair backlogs and transition to new technologies to address the climate crisis. Photos from today’s meeting are available here.

“Public transit is often what connects one community to the next, strengthens our workforce and helps fuel recreation,” Duckworth said. “I was glad for today’s conversation with Madison County Mass Transit leadership and the opportunity to hear firsthand about what’s happening in the region, including learning more about their ADA-accessible paratransit service. I shared how I’ve worked to make public transit more safe, modern and ADA-accessible through my ASAP Act. Together, regional organizations and government officials can continue building upon this work.”

Thanks to provisions based off of Duckworth’s All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help ensure Americans with disabilities can access rail transit, giving them more independence and access to employment by establishing a discretionary grant program for legacy rail fixed guideway public transportation systems. The Law has also been at work helping improve the lives of working Americans by reducing traffic congestion, allowing infrastructure projects to implement local hiring initiatives and protecting roadside responders, among many other benefits for workers. The law is helping Illinois and Illinois communities improve roads, bridges, highways, public transit, airports and more throughout the state to allow for more good-paying jobs, better accessibility and needed investments.

-30-