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| FIRST ON WGIL: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Visits Local College |
FIRST REPORTED 4:00pm 10/20/09 A Peoria native selected to be the U.S. Secretary of Transportation stopped by a local college in an effort to promote what the community is doing to look towards the future.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood was in Galesburg Tuesday speaking to members of the community about how proud he is that over $88 million is coming locally to improve the railroad system.
LaHood was with a number of officials at a luncheon at Knox College and LaHood told the crowd that money is coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to improve a number of projects in the area.
"For starters, 11 road and bridge projects in Knox, Peoria, Stark, and Warren Counties, including $2.3 million dollars to resurface State Road 116, $77,000 to make Amtrak's Galesburg facility more accessible, and nearly $600,000 for bus shelters and other equipment to help modernize transit facilities in Galesburg."
LaHood says every time you see an orange barrel or orange cone it means jobs to him like when people in the Galesburg area get stuck at trains, he sees jobs and progress.
He also spoke about the importance of rail and how it contributes to economic development. LaHood said the community's mission has become railroads and that is the local engine driving the community into the future.
As far as a timeframe of economic recovery nationwide, LaHood said Galesburg, Knox County, and America are all coming back and when they do, they will be stronger thanks to the resiliency of its citizens.
(Knox College President Roger Taylor welcomes those who attended a luncheon featuring U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on Tuesday.)
(U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood speaks about the future of rail in the area at a luncheon at Knox College Tuesday.)
(U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood speaks to Knox College students about the area's future Tuesday.)
(U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and 74th District Representative Don Moffitt address questions raised by students Tuesday at Knox College.)
(News story and photos by WGIL's Dominic Fortini)
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| 10 20 09 by Newsroom |
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