Illinois officials and lawmakers say state transportation projects would benefit from more federal support.
When she testified before three members of Congress Tuesday, Democratic State Representative Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook, said the federal government hasn't budgeted money to passenger trains since 2010. She says Illinois was forced to come up with the needed 10-million dollars on its own.
But U.S. Representative Rodney Davis, a Republican from Taylorville, says Congress was supposed to hear Illinois' ideas for revenue sources.
"Well, we didn't. But as you saw when we ended the hearing, I said I want to hear what it is you think is going to work. And that's the message we need to send back to them."
Davis acknowledged that Illinois is in need of a more consistent way to pay for transportation needs, but he says even "the best" funding source would result in a backlog.
The federal transportation fund has an eight-billion dollar deficit.