Public works money used to fund transit improvements

July 22, 2010 (CHICAGO)

The agencies are sharing about $500 million from Illinois' capital construction program.

Governor Quinn announced the funding Thursday at a CTA station on Chicago's South Side.

A small group of hecklers tried to interrupt Quinn's speech. They yelled that they wanted jobs and urged people to dump Quinn in the November election.

Quinn says these programs will create jobs.

"When you invest in public transit, like we are at 63rd and Ashland, in Englewood, you're creating local jobs. People from the local community will be able to be hired to work on this project," said Quinn.

The program is part of the state's public works construction program. It's paid for with drivers' fees, liquor taxes and borrowing. The borrowing is supposed to stop once the legalization of video poker starts generating more money.

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