Passenger Trains > Amtrak Service to Quad Cities is Moving along (slowly)

MOLINE, Ill.The state of Illinois has been battling budget issues for a while now.But on Tuesday, the Quad Cities got some good news about the direct passenger rail service from the Quad Cities to Chicago.Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner says once the state passes a budget, they'll provide the $85 million to help with the project.Quad City leaders say getting this Amtrak service up and running is a priority.While Governor Rauner announced he is committed to the service, Quad City leaders say there's still a lot of work that needs to be done.“It's a huge deal for the Quad Cities,” said Henry Marquard, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce spokesperson.It's a project that's been in the works since 2010.Marquard says a passenger rail service from the Quad Cities to Chicago is a win for everyone.
There's both state and federal funding tied to the project.
Last year, the project went off the tracks.
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner froze the money authorized by the state after taking office.“As we've seen that project getting held up it has been very very disappointing and very frustrating for the community,” said Marquard.Congresswoman Cheri Bustos says there's $177 million federal grant dollars at stake.
The deadline of that grant is June 30th of this year.“If the Governor continued to sit on this and had we not literally dragged him across the finish line that money would had gone away,” said Rep. Bustos.Bustos says it’s now time to work with the Federal Railroad Administration to make sure they extended the grant deadline.Moline's City Administrator Lew Steinbrecher says the Illinois budget impasse hasn't stop them from working.“The city has continued to work on the $10 million TIGER grant, the federal grant that we've received to build the station. We're moving forward with that,” said Steinbrecher.And while there's still a chance the grant won't be extended he remains hopeful.“I think now it's a matter of time, not if, but when,” said Steinbrecher.Steinbrecher says they hope the have the multi-modal station up and running next year.
He says there is no timeline on when the Amtrak service would be up and running.
Steinbrecher says that all depends on when Illinois passes a budget.

What's the status of the construction of the connecting track off the BNSF at Wyanet, IL on the Mendota Sub?

sums007 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What's the status of the construction of the
> connecting track off the BNSF at Wyanet, IL on the
> Mendota Sub?

I think some of the engineering work has been done but no dirt has been moved yet.  Regardless of all the politics I think this one will be a non-starter when it comes time to actually plunk down the money.

Andy

A typical Obama non-accomplishment.

$10 billion down the drain with little to show for it except some handwaving.

abyler Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A typical Obama non-accomplishment.
>
> $10 billion down the drain with little to show for
> it except some handwaving.

Yup.  Presidents can do all the proposals they want about how to spend mone.  It's probably more apt, though, to blame Congress, which appropriates the money on projects the President would like to see;

The Illinois Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, a six-month FY 2017 budget today (we'll get to the other six months after the November election).  Whether this is the "budget" that frees up the State share of the project per the Governor's remarks earlier in the week, I don't know.

Appropriations from the legislature can be "impounded" or sequestered by the governor or the President.  Both parties do it. It's a terrible misuse of the process when it's the other party, but a statesmanlike action when your people do it.

Sometimes it is a way to pick out particularly obvious excessive pork spending, and hold onto the funding. Screw over the legislator who has an interest in the pork, and work out a deal now that you have their attention.

I would say Governor Rauner has softened a bit if he lets this funding for the Quad City train pass.