New Rail Committee created to push for passage of the Chicago-to-Moline Passenger Rail project
Community leaders from across the Quad Cities today announced the formation of a new Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee that will focus its energy on advocating for passage of the Chicago-to-Moline Passenger Rail project.
“Today we are announcing the formation of a new Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee with a clear goal: to advocate for passage of the Chicago-to-Moline Passenger Rail initiative currently under consideration in the Illinois General Assembly,” said Richard “Quijas” Brunk, Chairman of the Rock Island County Board.
Mr. Brunk, who will chair this new rail committee, will be joined by a large list of community & economic development leaders representing the Quad Cities region – and beyond. The committee will focus its energy on efforts to generate support within the Quad Cities region.
“We are not forming a committee to create bylaws and hold endless meetings. We are forming this committee because the time is right to make a big push for the Chicago-to-Moline Passenger Rail project and we want to strike while the iron is hot. This is go time,” said Mr. Brunk.
New Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee
- Rock Island County Board Chair Richard “Quijas” Brunk
- Moline Mayor Sangeetha 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 (ret) Douglas House
- Rock Island County Board Member Porter McNeil
At its April meeting, the Rock Island County Board unanimously passed a resolution urging passage of passenger rail. “The Rock Island County Board adds its voice to the chorus of regional voices urging completion of the Chicago-to-Quad Cities Passenger Rail project that will benefit our region for generations to come,” the resolution said.
And some of the benefits include:
- According to the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, passenger rail will have a significant economic impact in the region that could amount to a $300 million, 10-year impact, creating 825 QC regional jobs in the process ($30 million annual economic impact).
- Our region’s visitor economy would realize new business and workforce opportunities as well as repeat business to the region. Guests and tourists would appreciate our many attractions, including the world-renowned Mississippi River, our colleges and universities, signature events, unique festivals throughout the year, over 100 miles of trails, an amazing park system, the number one minor league baseball park in the country, the Rock Island Arsenal, our Channel Cat Water Taxi, authentic culinary opportunities and craft beer scene, wineries - and more. Couple this with being the global home to John Deere and considered the Creative Capital of the Midwest, the Quad Cities is a vibrant destination for all.
- Market research from Visit Quad Cities, the official destination marketing organization for the region, shows that Chicago and the Chicagoland area is the leading source market for visitation to the Quad Cities. In fact, 14.5 % of all visitor days spent during FY25 (July 1 - June 30, 2025) were generated by the Chicagoland area. This underscores the importance of the Chicago market to the Quad Cities visitor economy.
“This is an exciting opportunity to push this project to final passage,” said Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati. “Moline and the entire region have been advocating for this for several years. With renewed advocacy, this committee will help us seize the momentum."
“In April, 2025, Illinois’ Acting Secretary of Transportation, Gia Biagi, visited the Quad Cities. She urged everyone in the Quad Cities to make their voices heard with a powerful message that this is an important investment in the economy and the quality of life of the region,” said Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce CEO Peter Tokar III. “We are doing that now and will continue to press forward.”
Rock Island County Rail Committee Chair Richard “Quijas” Brunk said the committee will begin advocating for the rail initiative immediately.