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Government

Resolution about QC passenger rail passes IL House committee

Amtrak Passenger Rail
Photo provided by Amtrak
Amtrak Passenger Rail

An Illinois House committee has passed a resolution to get a federal agency involved in restoring passenger rail service to the Quad Cities.

Photo from Gregg4Illinois Facebook page

State Representative Gregg Johnson from Rock Island says the bill urges Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation to make a formal request to the Surface Transportation Board. The goal is to "compel the Iowa Interstate Railroad to enter into an agreement on the Quad Cities passenger rail project."

Johnson says "this project has been discussed and planned for over a decade, and the Iowa Interstate Railroad is the biggest – and hopefully final – obstacle we face."

In March, Iowa Interstate posted a statement on its website saying it continues to be -- quote -- "committed to working with the Illinois DOT to bring our 50 miles of freight railroad in line with the higher safety requirements required for passenger railroad infrastructure." The railroad also says it's waiting for a response to its "latest submission."

Screenshot of post on Iowa Interstate Railroad's website dated March 9th, 2023
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Iowa Interstate Railroad
Screenshot of post on Iowa Interstate Railroad's website dated March 9th, 2023

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.
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