A new project in Rock Island is designed to promote healthy lifestyles and better transportation. Monday, the city and MetroLink cut the ribbon on TOD, the transit oriented development, that includes 34 apartments, a new transit station, plus bikeway and infrastructure improvements.
Rock Island Mayor Dennis Pauley says residents of the new housing development, called The Locks, will be able to walk to the new transit station.
The 6.1 million dollar housing project includes studio, one, two, and three bedroom apartments, each with views of the Mississippi River and Lock and Dam 15. They're located on 20th Street, next to MetroLink's new Station on 2nd Avenue.
Federal Transit Regional Administrator, Mokhtee Ahmad, says the transit station has been in the works for over a decade, and was made possible by a 2.1 million dollar federal grant. The station includes a lobby, restrooms, and real-time route information.
He says the new transit station was necessary for downtown Rock Island.
There's a waiting list for the new apartments, and applications are being accepted. Residents will move into The Locks starting in January.
