People taking a water taxi ride on the Mississippi River are now getting a more memorable experience.
That’s because the Channel Cat Water Taxi service now has a new dock after a $1.8 million riverfront improvement project in the Village of East Davenport.
The updated dock area, located at 2100 E. River Drive at Lindsay Park, was the center of attention on a rainy Friday morning, June 5, as more than 50 business and community leaders gathered for a grand reopening ceremony at the facility.
“The reopening of the Village of East Davenport landing marks an exciting milestone for both residents and visitors who enjoy traveling the riverfront aboard the Channel Cat,” said Jennifer Hirsch, chief of staff at MetroLINK, which owns and operates the Channel Cat service as a public transit option.“These improvements strengthen connectivity along the riverfront and continue to support economic activity throughout the Quad Cities. We are grateful for our partnership through the Federal Transit Administration and the City of Davenport, which allowed us to invest in much needed improvements at the Village of East Davenport landing.”
That partnership helped pave the way for many improvements to the dock area. Those updates include the completion of a new dock, pedestrian bridge and landside improvements.
During the reopening, which included a Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony, Benjamin Limmer, MetroLINK’s new CEO and managing director, called the Channel Cat a “critical transportation service” that is much more than just a recreational offering in the region.
The Channel Cat reopened for the season over the Memorial Day weekend. That weekend got the season off to a fast start as more than 1,000 people used the Channel Cat during the holiday, said Mr. Limmer.
The MetroLINK CEO also praised the many people and groups that helped the dream of a massive dock improvement project in the Village of East Davenport become a reality. One of those people he pointed out was Jeff Nelson, MetroLINK’s longtime CEO and managing director who retired last year.
He praised Mr. Nelson for his hard work in getting the dock project started and helping line up the funding for the work.
Other community leaders at the June 5 ceremony also praised the many community leaders and partnerships in Iowa and Illinois that helped the dock project.
“This is all done through partnerships. … This is how we make this work,” said Davenport Mayor Jason Gordon.
The mayor added that he’s pleased the Village of East Davenport dock has reopened because people can now use the Channel Cat to visit nearby businesses, such as getting ice cream and other treats at Lagomarcino’s.
“We’re grateful for our partnership with MetroLINK and their ongoing investment in our riverfront. The new dock and enhanced amenities will make every experience on the Channel Cat even more memorable for Davenport residents and visitors,” he said.
Other community leaders said the Channel Cat helps make the Quad Cities a special place for residents and many visitors. One of those leaders was Dave Herrell, the president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities. He called the river transportation system one of the great assets of the community.
“Communities that thrive are the ones that have destination assets. … Everyday, people are asking us how they can connect with the Mississippi River,” he said.
Thousands of people every year make that connection with the river thanks to the water taxi service. In fact, the Channel Cat Water Taxi connects more than 44,000 passengers annually to destinations in Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline and Rock Island during the operating season. (That season runs from the Memorial Day weekend through September.)
The Channel Cat connections will likely improve next year with more dock updates. Ms. Hirsch said a dock upgrade project is in the works for The Bend in East Moline. Environmental studies are currently in progress and dock upgrade work in East Moline should start next spring, she added.
MetroLINK operates the service on the Mississippi River with four stops: two in Moline, one in Bettendorf and one at Lindsay Park in the Village of East Davenport.
All of that work will pay off by creating more chances to show the river and the community to visitors, said Mr. Herrell.
“It’s really a chance to showcase the best of the Quad Cities,” he added.
