Our vision is becoming a
reality.
Restore
Passenger Rail to the Quad Cities
The vision of QC Rail is restored passenger rail service from the Quad Cities
to Chicago.
A thriving metropolitan area of 400,000 residents, intercity passenger
rail service to the Quad City region will be a successful addition to the
Midwest Passenger Rail Hub Network.
However, this is just the beginning.
Once the Quad Cities receives service, QC Rail believes connecting to
Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, and Omaha is a feasible venture.
A Long
History of Passenger Rail
The first passenger train arrived in the Quad Cities from Chicago on Feb. 22, 1854. Called "The Rock Island Rocket," it was the first train
traveling west to ever reach the Mississippi River. The first railroad
bridge constructed over the Mississippi River was completed in Rock Island
during 1856 allowing for continued rail service to the western United States. Passenger rail service
was a thriving mainstay in the Quad Cities for nearly 125 years until 1978.
The Quad Cities has been without passenger rail for almost 3
decades.
Looking
Forward
The Quad Cities is located on a highly populated passenger rail route
being considered to connect Chicago with the Quad Cities (400,000 residents),
Iowa City/Cedar Rapids (390,000 residents), Des Moines (500,000 residents),
and Omaha (820,000 residents). Amtrak has completed feasibility
studies for service from Chicago to the Quad Cities, and Quad Cities to Iowa City.
Iowa DOT has also requested Amtrak study extending the route to Des Moines.
Quad Cities Passenger Rail
Coalition Steering Committee
Organized as an
initiative of the Illinois Quad City Chamber’s Blueprint 2010, the Quad
Cities Passenger Rail Coalition
thrives on the excitement and support from its active Steering Committee members and Coalition supporters.
QC Rail Steering Committee Members:
Paul Rumler, Executive Director - Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition
John Wetzel, Chairman - Passenger Rail Steering Committee
Rick Baker, Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce
Jim Bohnsack, Chairman of Rock Island County
Betsy Brandsgard, Iowa Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce
Denise Bulat, Bi-State Regional Commission
John Corelis, Ruhl & Ruhl Commercial
Richard Davidson, Lane & Waterman
Dave Emerick, Blackhawk State Bank
P.J. Foley, St. Ambrose University
Sally Heffernan, City of Rock Island
Teresa Kurtenbach, DCEO
Hector Lareau, Attorney at Law
Chris Mathias, City of Moline
Larry Minard, Scott County Board of Supervisors
Charlotte Morrison, Quad Cities Convention and Visitors Bureau
Bill Nelson, City of Rock Island Parks and Recreation
Jeff Nelson, MetroLINK
Jim Patterson, Western Illinois University
Dennis Pauley, AT&T
Marge Purnell, The Sedona Group
Austin Quick, Van Hoe Funeral Home
Kevin Santry, Crippen Reid & Bowen
Kai Swanson, Augustana College
Scott Tunnicliff, Hilltop Main Street
Steve Verdick, REDEEM
Hap Volz, retired, Wells Fargo
