CHICAGO – Building upon the smart infrastructure investments supported by Senator Willie Preston, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced an investment of nearly $41 billion in road and bridge improvement projects across the state.

“As an owner and operator of a construction firm, I know how crucial working-class jobs are to building and sustaining our community,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “The investments in our roads, transit systems, and pedestrian walkways will not only make our communities safer, but they will generate good-paying jobs for people across the district.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, the district Preston represents will see 13 infrastructure projects totaled at more than $20 million over the next six years.

Some of the most vital projects coming to the area include:

•  Improvements and modernization to traffic signals, pavement markings, and ADA accessibility to Harlem Avenue
• Pavement repairs on Pulaski Road
• Pavement repairs on Western Avenue

These projects are part of IDOT’s multi-year plan, a $40 billion investment in construction projects for the next six fiscal years. The project invest in all modes of transportation: roads and bridges, aviation, transit, freight and passenger rail, waterways, as well as bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.

“I went to Springfield on a mission to improve the lives of people living in the 16th District,” Preston said. “I am proud to deliver investments to our community’s infrastructure that will help move our economy forward and enhance safety for constituents.”

To find a full list of projects slated for the 16th Senate District, visit IDOT’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Willie Preston championed diversity efforts in the clean energy job sector through House Bill 3702, which was signed into law Friday.

“We have to hold programs accountable for ensuring that they are providing all returning residents with the same opportunities,” said Preston (D-Chicago). “This law helps us to ensure no specific demographic is being underserved within the returning resident community.”

The Returning Resident Clean Jobs Training provides training to prepare people in the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections for entry-level clean energy jobs. House Bill 3702 diversifies the reporting requirements for the Returning Residents Clean Jobs Training Program requiring the Illinois Office of Equity to report performance metrics according to race, ethnicity, gender, age, and location.

“Having these reporting requirements in place will allow us to see if specific demographics are being underserved and give us the opportunity to come up with solutions to ensure that we are supporting every returning resident,” said Preston. “I am proud to stand behind legislation that supports creating opportunistic environments for our entire state.”

House Bill 3702 was signed into law on Friday.

CHICAGO - State Senator Willie Preston attended the 2024 FY Budget signing with Governor Pritzker at Christopher House Stewart Campus Gymnasium in Chicago, releasing the following statement:

"I am thrilled to commend Governor JB Pritzker for signing the 2024 Illinois Budget, a milestone that places workers at the forefront of our state's priorities. As the State Senator representing the 16th District, I am proud to have played a role in shaping this budget, which not only addresses the immediate needs of our constituents but also lays the foundation for a prosperous future.

SPRINGFIELD – During his first year in office, State Senator Willie Preston (D-Chicago) was proud to support a budget that prioritizes education from birth to college, enhances workforce development, and includes efforts to uplift low- and middle-class families.

In response to the Fiscal Year 2024 budget passing the Senate, Preston released the following statement:

“The working class people of the 16th District sent me to Springfield to help shape a budget that provides educational and career opportunities that promote stabilization of our communities, support the re-emergence of entrepreneurship in our most economically challenged communities, and ensure equitable opportunities for all. I am excited to expand these opportunities to many of the residents in the area who have been underserved.”