Durbin Receives Proclamation From Chicago Metropolitan Agency For Planning In Recognition Of Decades Of Advocacy For Illinois Infrastructure Projects

October 14, 2026 Durbin Receives Proclamation From Chicago Metropolitan Agency For Planning In Recognition Of Decades Of Advocacy For Illinois Infrastructure Projects CHICAGO – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today attended a Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) board meeting, where he was presented with a proclamation in recognition of his decades of public service. Before Durbin received the proclamation, he participated in a brief moderated panel with CMAP leaders—Erin Aleman, Executive Director of CMAP; Gerald Bennett, Mayor of Palos Hills, Illinois; and Gia Biagi, Illinois Transportation Secretary and Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee Chair. Durbin raised the success of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program, a public-private partnership to complete 70 rail projects to reduce rail congestion in the Chicago region. Durbin has helped to secure more than $800 million in federal funding for CREATE. Throughout his time in Congress, Durbin has supported various infrastructure programs. This includes the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, which has awarded more than $30 million to Illinois projects like the Odgen Avenue Corridor Improvement Project in Cook County; the PROTECT grant program which has bolstered the state’s climate resiliency with more than $33 million in funding for Illinois projects; and the All Stations Accessibility Program, which has provided Illinois with more than $184 million to improve accessibility at transit stations across the state. “Investing in our state’s infrastructure is a win for everyone. We build stronger connections between every region of Illinois, bring great jobs to the state, and ensure that all traveling through our region have a safe and efficient route,” Durbin said. “CMAP has been an invaluable partner in pushing our state’s infrastructure projects forward and preparing for the future, and I look forward to continuing to see CMAP’s leadership make a difference across Illinois.” A photo of Durbin receiving the proclamation can be found here . CMAP is a comprehensive planning organization for Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties and 284 communities of northeastern Illinois. In 2010, Durbin secured a $4.25 million federal grant for CMAP’s GO TO 2040 community planning initiative to help CMAP implement its comprehensive plan for a sustainable future. -30- Print Email Share Tweet