SPRINGFIELD — After a Senate hearing Thursday about transparency and equity at the Illinois Department of Transportation, IDOT and other members of the Mid-America Association of State Transportation Agencies voted to establish a diversity committee. State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) praised the decision in the following statement:

“For years, we’ve heard serious complaints about acts of discrimination at IDOT. Thursday, we gave Secretary Omer Osman the opportunity to respond to these allegations, and I’m happy to see that he’s taken them seriously.

“The establishment of this diversity committee is a start, but it will not be enough to fix the issues on its own. I’m looking forward to seeing policies that result in us hearing less and less discrimination complaints.

“I hope to see the organization implement more opportunities for people of color statewide, both in employment and mobility.”