Luis Gutierrez: Representing Illinois' Fourth District

Media Contact: Rebecca Dreilinger (202) 225-8203

(Washington DC) Today, Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) announced requests for public financing to strengthen transportation resources in Illinois' Fourth District. Although the vast majority of federal transportation funding is distributed to states and local governments by formula, a small percentage is held aside for Members of Congress to designate for High Priority Projects (HPPs) in their states and congressional districts.  This provision is provided for under the Safe Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

“We all know of instances where dangerous roads are not repaired in a timely manner or critical projects cannot move forward because inadequate funds become a barrier,” Rep. Gutierrez said.  “Citizens and communities have a constitutional right to ask their congressman for help, and the HPP process is an important tool for responding to those concerns directly.

The following is a list of high priority projects requested by Congressman Gutierrez for the 4th district of Illinois:

 

1) Blue Island from 19th St. to 21st St. Streetscape                               
$2,155,000

This streetscape project requires engineering and construction.  It will include resurfacing, new sidewalk, curb and gutter, landscaping, decorative lighting, stamped crosswalks, community identifiers.

2) Cicero Avenue: Belmont Ave. to Grand Ave.                                    
$2,592,000 
 

Resurfacing Cicero Avenue from Belmont to Grand Avenue.  This project includes construction and engineering.

3) Kostner Ave. Street Widening                                                          
$1,640,000 
 

Widening and resurfacing Kostner Ave. from Belmont Ave. to Diversey Ave.  The scope of work will include but not be limited to widening Kostner Ave. two feet on each side to increase roadway width from 30' to 34', patching and resurfacing the existing roadway, sewer and drainage work as needed and landscaping work consisting of parkway trees and sod.

4) Milwaukee Avenue: W. Logan Blvd. to N. Kedzie Ave. Streetscape   

$3,200,000 
 

Streetscape construction including the resurfacing of Milwaukee Ave. within project limits, drainage improvements where required. Streetscape will be upgraded with new sidewalk, new curb and gutter, planting of street trees in decorative grates, new decorative street lighting, upgraded viaduct lighting and painting and two traffic signal modernizations.  Logan Square will be highlighted with additional streetscape furniture and plantings.  
 

5) Milwaukee Avenue: N. Kedzie Ave. to W. Belmont Ave. Streetscape
$9,856,000 
 

Streetscape construction including resurfacing of Milwaukee Ave. within project limits and drainage improvements where required.  Streetscape will be upgraded with new sidewalk, new curb and gutter, planting of street trees in decorative grates, new decorative street lighting, upgraded viaduct lighting and painting and two traffic signal modernizations at Central Park Ave. and Kedzie Ave. at Milwaukee Ave. Commercial districts at Diversey and Kimball will be highlighted with additional streetscape furniture and plantings. 
 

6) Authorization of UP-NW Line Expansion in Northeastern, IL          

 Authorization is sought for preliminary engineering, final design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of the Union pacific Northwest Line in Northeastern Illinois.

7) Authorization of UP-W Line Core Capacity Upgrades in Northeastern, IL

Authorization for engineering, final design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction of the UP-W Line Core Capacity Upgrades in Northeastern, IL.  The UP-W line project will build upon the recent extension to Elburn and create needed capacity with new corridor improvements along the entire UP-W Line from Chicago to Elburn, IL.

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