Passenger Rail Update: Committee members will travel to Springfield next week ahead of veto session

The Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee is joining with new partners to take immediate steps ahead of next week’s veto session, focusing its energy on advocating for funding of the Chicago-to-Moline Passenger Rail project.

On Monday, October 13, committee members will go to Springfield to advocate before the Illinois General Assembly for funding for the Chicago to Quad Cities Passenger Rail Line. A statement from the committee said, "It is important that any legislation that is passed addressing our state’s transit needs be good legislation for all of Illinois, its citizens, working men and women and its businesses. 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.”

New partner advocates include Citizen Action/Illinois, Executive Director, Anusha Thotakura; the Illinois Chamber of Commerce CEO, Lou Sandoval; and the Illinois Transportation Alliance Board Member and Illinois AFL–CIO President, Tim Drea. 

“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,” said Committee Chairman Richard "Quijas" Brunk. “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.”

“As the state’s largest public advocacy organization Citizen Action/Illinois advocates for access, mobility, the environment and economic opportunity for all," said Anusha Thotakura. "A transportation network that strengthens our economy and meets the human and commercial needs of Illinois must be developed. 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.”

“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," added Peter Tokar lll, President & CEO of the Quad Cities Chamber and Grow Quad Cities. "This will significantly impact the QC region’s economy, as well as the other train stops, including Geneseo, Princeton and Chicago,” he said.

Last week, Governor JB Pritzker reaffirmed his commitment to the Chicago to Quad Cities Passenger Rail (with a stop in Geneseo) by continuing to include $388.8 million in the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Multi-Year Plan specifically for this effort. “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,” said Doug House, retired Illinois Deputy Secretary of Transportation.

“The Governor and the State Transportation Secretary have expressed their commitment to the Chicago to Quad Cities Passenger Rail Project, and we can’t thank them enough for doing that,” said Sangeetha Ryapati, Mayor of Moline. “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. We will not be detoured by any obstacle put in front of us no matter how long it takes.”