Former Congressman Davis Attends County HUB Event

Sangamon County held a second public signing event Tuesday afternoon, December 23 for a structural steel beam that will become part of the Springfield–Sangamon County Hub. The beam is displayed on the first floor of the County Building and remains open for public signing ahead of its installation in the Hub’s structure.

Former U.S. Congressman Rodney Davis, now President of Government Affairs for the Chamber of Commerce, joined County Board Chairman Andy Van Meter, County Board members, and local and state officials for the event. Those in attendance included State Senator Steve McClure, former State Representative Mike Murphy, State Representative Mike Coffey, and State Representative Wayne Rosenthal. Brief remarks were delivered by Van Meter, McClure, Murphy, and Davis before attendees signed the beam.

Van Meter opened the event by thanking members of the state and federal delegations for their role in securing funding for the project, noting that the Hub became possible only after difficult legislative decisions. “This is a day for the community to say thank you,” Van Meter said. “Our state delegation took several difficult votes to obtain the funding needed to build this transportation center, and today’s signing is about helping move it one step closer to completion.”

State Senator Steve McClure spoke about his personal connection to the County Building and the importance of the project for residents and visitors. “This is something I’m very proud of,” McClure said. “It took tough votes and bipartisan cooperation, but this project shows that when local, state, and national leaders work together, really good things can happen.”

Former State Representative Mike Murphy echoed those remarks, recalling the decision by local legislators to make rail relocation and the transportation hub a top priority. “We agreed this would be our number one request,” Murphy said. “We supported the capital bill knowing this project would receive the funding it needed, and now we’re seeing that effort move toward completion.”

Van Meter also highlighted Davis’ long-standing involvement in the project, noting that his efforts helped move the Hub forward at critical moments. “You’ve been with this project from the very beginning,” Van Meter said. “Even after you left Congress, you helped secure the final approvals needed to get construction started, and every month saved mattered.”

Davis said the Hub reflects years of bipartisan cooperation and shared vision across all levels of government. “This project came to reality in the way Sangamon County leaders wanted because people rallied around a common goal,” Davis said. “It would not have happened without strong support from city and county officials and bipartisan backing at every level.”

The Springfield–Sangamon County Hub will consolidate Amtrak, Greyhound, and Sangamon Mass Transit District (SMTD) services at a single location on 9th Street. The project includes a pedestrian bridge spanning the 10th Street railroad tracks, creating a direct connection between the Sangamon County Building and the Amtrak station and improving access to county services and regional transit.

In addition to transportation functions, the Hub will feature a parking garage, improved streetscapes, consolidated county office space, and public amenities such as a grab-and-go coffee area and digital information screens. The building will also include permanent exhibits highlighting local history, including an exhibit dedicated to the 1908 Springfield Race Riot. Artifacts uncovered during archaeological excavations associated with the rail relocation project will be incorporated into the exhibit through a partnership with the Illinois State Museum, which will take a community-centered approach to its design. Plans also include space for the Springfield–Sangamon County Sports Hall of Fame.

County officials view the Hub as a major investment in downtown infrastructure and long-term accessibility.