With the Illinois veto session ending Wednesday, Oct. 29, passenger rail advocates are urging Quad Citians to take action and help push the long-awaited Moline-to-Chicago route across the finish line.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has included $338.8 million in his new transportation plan to support passenger rail service between Moline and Chicago, marking a significant step toward reviving the long-discussed project.
According to the Quad Cities Chamber, the easiest way for residents to show their support is to join the Moline to Chicago Passenger Rail campaign. Quad Citians can contact their legislators directly through the campaign website or by texting “PassRail” to 877-806-1507.
A Final Push in Springfield
The Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee, along with the Quad Cities Chamber and other regional stakeholders, has spent the last two weeks at the Illinois Statehouse in Springfield, rallying lawmakers to back the funding bill.
Committee member Doug House, former deputy secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), has been working closely with legislators during the final days of the veto session to secure approval.
The proposed passenger rail route already has the support of Gov. Pritzker and IDOT Secretary Gia Biagi. Growing local involvement appears to be making an impact, with several lawmakers reporting an increase in letters from Quad Cities residents. However, more public support is urgently needed — if the measure doesn’t pass this session, it may not return until next spring.
Community Leaders Rally for Rail
Local leaders advocating for the project include Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, QC Chamber President & CEO Peter Tokar III, and Richard “Quijas” Brunk, chair of both the Passenger Rail Committee and the Rock Island County Board.
Brunk emphasized that this moment is critical for the project’s future.
“We have never been closer to securing funding for construction of the Chicago-to-Quad Cities Passenger Rail project. We are now at an all-hands-on-deck moment — it’s time for the big push,” he said.
Residents are encouraged to reinforce that message by contacting their lawmakers and urging them to join Sen. Mike Halpin (D-Rock Island) and Rep. Gregg Johnson (D-East Moline) in supporting the initiative.
A Project with Big Economic Potential
Tokar highlighted that the project’s completion could deliver substantial regional benefits.
“Quad Citizens have a unique opportunity to make their voices heard and help bring this decades-long project to fruition,” Tokar said. “If the legislature follows through and funds the Chicago-Quad Cities rail connection, we can expect hundreds of millions of dollars in economic impact and the creation of more than 800 jobs.”
To ensure their voices are heard, Quad Citians must act before the veto session closes — sending a strong signal to Springfield that the region is united behind passenger rail service connecting Chicago, Geneseo, and the Quad Cities.
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