Members of the Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee are in Springfield today and Tuesday, Oct. 14 to urge Illinois lawmakers attending the fall veto session to say yes to $388.8 million that Gov. J.B. Pritzker has earmarked for a Chicago to Moline route.
The six-day session will kick off Tuesday, Oct 14, and will run Oct. 14-17 and Oct. 28-30.
The Quad Cities committee formed to advocate for the service said Friday, Oct. 10 it will joined by influential leader to advocate for passenger rail service.
“It is important that any legislation that is passed addressing our state’s transit needs to be good legislation for all of Illinois, its citizens, working men and women and its businesses,” the committee said.
“That for us means that it will include funding for the Chicago to Quad Cities passenger rail line, and that it serves all of the state well and moves our state transit system closer to the world-class system that the public demands and deserves; transit that is on time, seamless, safe, and properly managed in the public’s interest.”
Committee Chair Richard Brunk will be joined today a lenghty list of community, economic development and state leaders to push for funding for the Chicago to QC route.
New partners include the leader of the state’s largest public advocacy organization, Citizen Action-Illinois Executive Director Anusha Thotakura; Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO Lou Sandoval, and the Illinois Transportation Alliance Board Member and Illinois AFL- CIO President Tim Drea.
Quad Cities passenger rail service also has the support of Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi.
QC route support grows
“We have reached out to leaders on the other end of this service in the Chicago region because we know there is benefit for those communities as well and they have been receptive,” Mr. Brunk said. “When this committee was formed, we said we were prepared to strike while the iron is hot and so we will. The time is right to make a big push for the Chicago-to-Moline line.”
“Public transportation is the engine that drives Illinois forward,” Mr. Drea added in the release. “This project will unlock new economic opportunities for millions of Illinoisans – creating thousands of good quality, union jobs, strengthening connections between regional economies, and providing a reliable, affordable way for working people to get where they need to go.
He said “We are proud to see this vision taking shape, and we remain committed to working with the committee and our elected leaders to deliver the world–class transit system Illinoisans deserve.”
Mr. Sandoval said the state chamber has long supported intercity connectivity, and Chicago to Quad Cities passenger rail “is a perfect example of this. Once connected, these two cities will reap great mutual economic benefits in quality of life, job opportunities, and economic growth.”
Doug House, retired Illinois deputy secretary of transportation, and QC rail committee member, said “This project would have been dead without the continued support of Governor Pritzker. For that we are immensely grateful. This funding allows us to continue to seek resources to complete our project.”
Economic impact widespread
Peter Tokar lll is president & CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber and Grow Quad Cities. He said “Locally we know the projected economic benefit to the Quad Cities has been identified at more than $30 million annually and is projected to create 825 jobs.” That impact will be felt in the “QC region’s economy as well as the other train stops including Geneseo, Princeton and Chicago.”
Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati thanked the governor and IDOT secretary for their continued support for QC passenger rail.
“This demonstrates momentum; our timing is right and we must act now to represent our communities and secure these additional funds in the veto session to finish this project,” she said in the release. “We will not be detoured by any obstacle put in front of us no matter how long it takes.”
Citizen Action – Illinois’ Ms. Thotakura said her agency “advocates for access, mobility, the environment, and economic opportunity for all.” That includes adequately funding a highly integrated intermodal system of transportation including all publicly funded transportation, suburban and intercity rail, freight rail, roads and bridges, whose express purpose is to move people and goods efficiently.
“A transportation network that strengthens our economy and meets the human and commercial needs of Illinois must be developed,” she said in the release. “We believe the Chicago to Quad Cities passenger rail project is a home run. It connects two major population centers and meets all of the goals of good public policy.”
List of advocates is long
The Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee was formed this fall. The growing roster incudes:
- Rock Island County Board Chairman Brunk.
- Moline Mayor Rayapati.
- East Moline Mayor Reggie Freeman.
- Rock Island Mayor Ashley Harris.
- Silvis Mayor Robert Cervantes.
- Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce CEO Peter Tokar, III.
- Quad Cities Federation of Labor President Dan Gosa.
- Tri-City Building & Construction Trades Council CEO Cory Bergfeld.
- MetroLINK CEO Jeff Nelson.
- Quad Cities International Airport Authority Executive Director Ben Leischner.
- Quad Cities River Bandits CEO/owner Dave Heller.
- Visit Quad Cities President and CEO Dave Herrell.
- RENEW Moline CEO Alexandra Elias.
- Rock Island Downtown Alliance Executive Director Jack Cullen.
- REDEEM East Moline CEO Jenelle Wolber.
- Mercado on Fifth President Maria Ontiveros.
- IDOT Deputy Secretary (retired) Doug House.
