Dupage Policy Journal

U.S. Reps. Dan Lipinski (D-Dist. 3) and Robert Dold (R-Dist. 10) and other Illinois members of Congress asked the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this week to include provisions for improving the movement of freight in a comprehensive surface transportation bill on the drawing board.

“The American economy relies on the efficient movement of freight,” Lipinski, Dold and the bipartisan group said in a letter. "Businesses rely on complex supply chains to receive inputs and ship outputs to customers, all while minimizing transportation and warehousing costs. As consumers, nearly everything we buy – from food to clothing to electronics and durable goods – arrives via the freight system.”

Specifically, the representatives are looking for the federal government to provide the leadership and resources necessary to ensure a strong national freight network, while also focusing on policies that will help alleviate congestion on the roads.

“Hubs and gateways in locations such as Chicago are vital for export and import activity, and the national movement of freight, but experience highly localized impacts such as congestion, pollution and community disruption,” the letter said. "With the largest concentrations of people and highly complex transportation systems, these metropolitan areas are closest to the daily impacts and understand the issues that arise from goods movement. As such, it is critical that the next transportation bill prioritize these key freight regions in any new freight program.”