A new bus service is designed to reduce traffic congestion during construction of the new I-74 bridge. On Monday the "Stretch" commuter bus service began carrying people between Bettendorf and downtown Moline, and Bettendorf and downtown Rock Island.
Spokeswoman Jennifer Hirsch says Metro has been planning Stretch for at least two years with Davenport CitiBus, and together they won a grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation.
"As we move into next year and the year after, and as things really start to pick up, we're hoping this'll be a nice alternative for commuters."
The grant will support Stretch for a year and-a-half - paying for part-time drivers and the re-habbing of four buses from the CitiBus fleet, plus some advertising.
The buses will run from 5:45 am until 6:35 pm, Monday through Friday, starting at the Burlington Coat Factory in Bettendorf and traveling either to Center Station in downtown Moline, or through Davenport to the Metro station in downtown Rock Island.
The service is free.
