Officials from Pace, Metra, and local, state, and federal government gathered to celebrate the award of a $20 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant to fund the Harvey Transportation Center reconstruction project in Harvey, Illinois, according to Pace's news release. 

Once complete, Pace said the new multimodal facility will offer an upgrade for public transit riders in the south suburbs. The project is a partnership between Pace, Metra, and the City of Harvey.

“Pace is honored to be recognized with this grant and for the opportunity it gives us, Metra, the City of Harvey, the State of Illinois, and the people we serve,” said Rick Kwasneski, Pace chairman. “It represents equity and access to opportunity for all. More people board Pace buses right here than any other location in our region, so this project provides benefits for thousands of daily riders getting to jobs throughout northeastern Illinois.”

Kwasneski welcomed Congresswoman Robin Kelly to the podium, noting her instrumental role in helping Pace receive this grant.

“These investments will make our transportation systems safer, more accessible, more affordable, and more sustainable for generations to come," said Kelly. "Nearly 2/3 of these [RAISE grant] projects are located in areas of persistent poverty or historically disadvantaged communities. Now, thanks to the U.S Department of Transportation and the Biden Harris Administration, Harvey, Pace, and Metra have won a $20 million dollar grant to improve the intermodal transportation center."

The improved Pace transit center benefits some of Illinois’s most historically disadvantaged communities and thus meets the standard in the Biden Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, according to the agency. Pace said the project reflects an intentionally inclusive economic investment through both the creation of new construction jobs and a vastly improved facility.