AASHTO Journal - Illinois DOT Event Celebrates Rockford Transit Project

The Illinois Department of Transportation recently hosted an event celebrating the ongoing construction of the Rockford Mass Transit District or RMTD expansion project; aimed at strengthening the state’s transportation infrastructure network and improving public transit services.

[Above photo by Illinois DOT]

The agency noted that it awarded $39.4 million to RMTD for this project as part of the state’s Rebuild Illinois Capital Grant Program.

The RMTD expansion project will use $32.6 million to renovate its current vehicle storage and maintenance facility in coordination with the City of Rockford.

The new facility and upgraded storage areas will provide sufficient space to accommodate current and future fixed route vehicle storage needs, while integrating battery electric charging infrastructure into the facility to support the district’s current and future battery electric fixed route vehicles. The renovations also include increased training space, meeting rooms, and amenities for transit employees, RMTD noted.

Meanwhile, the remaining $6.8 million will fund new alternative fuel buses and vehicles, as well as supply the RMTD with equipment to reduce energy consumption and harmful emissions across the fleet.

“Whether commuting to work, visiting friends and family, or running their everyday errands – the convenience and efficiency of our transit systems is essential to the day-to-day lives of our people,” said Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) in a statement.

“These facility upgrades are supporting reliable transit and accelerating sustainable economic growth here in Rockford and across Winnebago County,” he added.

“We are proud to work with Rockford to get them the tools and resources they need to deliver projects that keep their residents safe and connected while helping Illinois strengthen its role as the transportation hub of North America,” said Acting Illinois DOT Secretary Gia Biagi. “Modern, reliable, and efficient transit is an essential piece of a multimodal network that gives Illinois a competitive advantage.”