SPRINGFIELD — Rochelle’s economic development director, Jason Anderson, recently took a trip to Springfield as part of the Capitol’s Transportation for Illinois Coalition Lobby Day.
From its origin as the railroad capital of the nation and its development as the hub of major east-west interstate highways, to hosting the world’s busiest airport and serving as a vital link for the nation’s water traffic, Illinois has served as the central conduit for the nation’s commerce. Thus, the economies of Illinois and the nation are inextricably related, according to www.tficillinois.org.
Illinois’ transportation system plays a pivotal role in the nation’s ability to move goods and people because of its  geographic location and extensive road, rail, airport, and waterway networks.

Maintaining its role as the transportation hub of the nation is a vital economic strategy for Illinois. Challenges to the quality and capacity of the Illinois transportation system are extensive and rising.
“I spent more than 8 hours crossing the State Capitol grounds meeting with elected officials and members of Governor Pritzker’s staff to discuss how we can get more funding allocated for local roads, bridges, water/sewer systems and economic development projects that will help create jobs and grow our community,” Anderson said. “The group called Transportation for Illinois Coalition is committed to seeing the crumbling infrastructure in Illinois get the funding necessary to rebuild our infrastructure systems. Over the course of two days I was able to meet with nearly a dozen elected officials along with officials with IDOT and the BNSF.”