QUAD CITIES - Congressman Phil Hare today announced the Quad Cities will receive a $10 million federal TIGER II grant "for the construction of an intermodal station in downtown Moline," which will be the future Quad Cities Amtrak Station.
The funding is a result of a TIGER II funding application submitted in August 2010 by the State of Illinois Department of Transportation in collaboration with the City of Moline to support intercity passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cities.
"The Amtrak Station funding is the culmination of years of hard work by Quad Cities' community leaders and elected officials who took action in response to the outpouring of public demand for passenger rail service," said Paul Rumler, Executive Director of the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition. "Today's announcement would not be a reality without the leadership of Senator Durbin, Congressman Hare, and Congressman Braley who pushed hard for this funding at the federal level, and Governor Quinn who identified the Quad Cities Amtrak station as a top state priority for Illinois. Passenger rail service will lead to new jobs and economic growth while adding to our region's quality of life."
Construction of the Amtrak station is expected to generate nearly 750 temporary construction jobs and result in the retention or creation of 1,100 private sector jobs. An additional $47 million in private investment will come to the Quad Cities as a result of the transit oriented development centered on the Amtrak station. When passenger rail service is realized, studies show that Quad Cities passenger rail service will create between 550-825 jobs, increase household income by $11-16 million, and boost property values by $52-75 million.
"Area residents, community and business leaders, and elected officials united through QC Rail to advocate and support passenger rail service, and together it's time to celebrate its return to the Quad Cities," said Rumler.
The Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition (QC Rail) was established by the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce to advocate on behalf of the greater Quad City region for restored passenger rail service. Over 10,000 area residents, community, labor, and business leaders, and elected officials have joined QC Rail since May 2007.
