Rush applauds Metra vote to name new, 35th Street Station in honor of the late Illinois Assistant Majority Leader
Lovana S. "Lou" Jones

Construction marks congressman's 15-year effort to improve transportation in South Side community and increase minority participation

CHICAGO ––  U. S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush today applauded  decision by the Metra board of directors to name the new 35th Street Metra station in honor of the late, IL State Rep. Lovana S. "Lou" Jones. The Metra board voted to name the station, located at 35th Street and LaSalle Street, the "Lovana S. (Lou) Jones/Bronzeville Metra Station."

Last month, Rep. Rush submitted a formal request to the Metra Board to name this new Metra stop in honor of the Assistant House Majority Leader, who served for 20 years in the Illinois General Assembly.  "I am pleased the Metra Board agreed to honor my request in honor of my dear friend, and political colleague Lou Jones.  "This decision is even meaningful given the tremendous effort by Metra to provide the opportunity for minority businesses to participate in the economic benefits this new station will usher into Bronzeville."

Rep. Rush commended Metra's commitment to ensuring that minority contractors were given the opportunity to participate in the $8.8 million construction project. Forty-three percent of the construction contracts to date have been awarded to MBE/DBE firms with pending contracts expected to push the final total to nearly 50 percent.  Metra officials and the general contractor, Burns Construction have been very aggressive in working to bring minority contractors to the table, co-sponsoring a Minority Contractors Fair with Rush at the Illinois Institute of Technology last March.

Jones, who spent nearly 20 years in the Illinois Legislature speaking up for abused children and ex-convicts, died at age 68 in May 2006. Known to everyone as "Lou," the Chicago Democrat chaired the House Committee on Public Safety. She had served since 1987 and was an assistant majority leader.

Rep. Rush began his legislative quest to establish this Metra stop early in his congressional career following a conversation with former Chicago Alderman Christopher Cohen. Undeterred by Metra's early refusals to support the station, in both the 1994 and 1999 federal Highway Reauthorization bills, the congressman remained adamant in his pursuit of this project.  In 2004, Metra agreed to support the construction of the station and legislator secured $4.1 million in federal funds from the 2005 Highway Reauthorization bill.

Earlier this year, Rep. Rush worked aggressively to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) which provided a significant boost to the Metra station project by injecting $7.5 million in economic stimulus dollars into the construction project.

Groundbreaking on the new project, which will generate 100 construction jobs, is expected to take place in the first week of July.

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