INDIANAPOLIS—This weekend, United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg joined the Rainbow PUSH Coalition for its 56th annual International Convention at the South Shore. The Secretary of Transportation discussed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the ongoing efforts to revitalize our nation’s infrastructure. Part of those efforts includes the Double Track Project in Gary, which broke ground this week.

Senate Assistant Democratic Leader Eddie Melton (D-Gary) released the following statement:

“I’m extremely pleased with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg’s work to address crumbling infrastructure throughout our nation, and I was happy for the invitation to join him along with Reverend Jesse Jackson and Bishop Tavis Grant to attend a meeting discussing progress on transportation and infrastructure in Gary and throughout my district.

“I was also grateful for the opportunity to personally thank the Secretary of Transportation as well as the Biden Administration for the federal funding granted to my district, including funding from the American Rescue Plan for the historic Double Tracking project. The project includes 18 miles of new double-track territory and aims to increase train frequency and improve travel time on the South Shore Line.

“The federal support we’ve received over the last two years will have tremendous benefits for my district, particularly in Gary, and I’m extremely thankful for the Biden Administration’s support. I would also like to thank Congressman Frank Mrvan Jr. for his work to get the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed in November.

“With the federal funding we’ve received, we will have the opportunity to invest in economic development along the Buffington Harbor, the Gary International Airport and throughout the city. Gary is positioned, logistically, to be a booming economic and transportation hub, and I thank the Secretary of Transportation for the ongoing support for his home state. His work will have a huge and lasting impact on Gary, Northwest Indiana and the nation overall. I look forward to continuing to work with him and the Biden administration to grow our local economy.”