Durbin Meets with Quad City Development Group to Discuss Regional Priorities

Press Release

DURBIN MEETS WITH QUAD CITY DEVELOPMENT GROUP TO DISCUSS REGIONAL PRIORITIES

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with seventy-five community leaders from the Quad Cities to discuss their regional priorities as part of the Quad City Development Group (QCDG) trip to Washington.

"The Quad City Development Group does a great job of coming together to promote a unified agenda for the entire region," said Durbin. "Their record with the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), fighting for the Rock Island Arsenal was excellent. Now they are promoting projects like passenger rail service, secure water and sewer infrastructure, attracting a public four-year college and upgrading the riverfront areas."

At today's meeting, the QCDG discussed RiverVision, which is a long term economic development plan between the cities of Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois, specifically focusing on the downtown and riverfront areas. Its goals are capitalize on the unique qualities of the two cities, create new urban parks in each city and identify catalysts for spurring economic development.

The Quad Cities is one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country without a public four-year university. The Quad City Development Group spoke with Durbin today about the need for a Western Illinois University Riverfront Quad Cities Campus in Moline, IL. This has been a high priority because it is expected to help create and attract much needed high paying, high tech jobs. This project is part of a larger initiative known as the MirrorImage. This initiative is also involved in bringing high-speed internet access to the entire region.

One of the highest priorities for the region and for the QCDG is to attract passenger rail service to the Quad Cities area. In December 2006, Durbin hosted a public hearing in Rock Island with Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) on starting new passenger service between Chicago and the Quad Cities. IDOT recently requested that Amtrak conduct a study on the feasibility of this route, which should be completed within the year.

"Amtrak provides quick, cost-effective, and reliable public ground transportation to 30 communities in the state. It is time to add communities in Northwest and North Central Illinois to that list," noted Durbin.

Participants in the meeting discussed their recent request that Congress fully fund both the drinking water and clean water State Revolving Funds. These funds finance water infrastructure improvements and water quality protection projects. Expanding populations have caused many local governments to struggle to meet the needs of expanding populations. Among these needs is a secure drinking water and wastewater infrastructure that meets both quality and environmental standards.

The following officials attended today's meeting: Rock Island Co. Board Chair Jim Bohnsack, Mercer Co. Board Chair Tom Harris, Aledo Mayor Lee Celske, Silvis Mayor Lyle Lohse, R.I. Mayor Mark Schwiebert, East Moline Mayor John Thodos and Moline Mayor Don Welvaert.

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