© 2024 WVIK
Listen at 90.3 FM and 98.3 FM in the Quad Cities, 95.9 FM in Dubuque, or on the WVIK app!
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

"The Q" On Track for Fall Opening

Construction of the train station and hotel is on track in downtown Moline. On Monday morning, MetroLINK and the Amin Group gave tours of The Q Multi-Modal Station and Westin Element Hotel.

Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Mayor Stephanie Acri, and other officials saw the progress made on the 32 million dollar project, now in its final phase of construction.

The Q will include a 96-room, extended stay hotel, stores, a restaurant and a passenger train station with service to Chicago.

Harlan Fournier  from MetroLINK says the project has been complicated and, at times, difficult.

"[It's been] working with an old building, trying to make it work, making sure bid documents match up, figuring out how to deal with problems when they come up. [This has been] a little more complicated than the average project would be, because the average project is done from scratch; this is a mix of both."

Developer Mike Amin says the Amtrak rail line may not be built for another year. But he's pleased the hotel is nearly finished.

"I'd love to have the train now, but we have enough business to sustain the initial opening. The train will just be a bonus to us, and I'd love to have them now instead of a year or two from today."

MetroLINK says the legislature and governor are committed to re-establishing passenger rail between here and Chicago. And, they've already earmarked tens of millions of dollars for the project. 

The Q in downtown Moline is expected to open this fall.

I am currently a senior at Augustana College, majoring in Multimedia Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Creative Writing. I serve as the General Manager for WAUG.fm, Augustana's online student radio station and have worked as an intern and DJ at Studstill Media Group. I report on local news for WVIK and am honored and excited to be a part of the news team. I hope to pursue a career in radio broadcasting and an eventual master's degree in English or Communications.