Moline mayor: Iowa Interstate Railroad is holding up rail service

A passenger rail line between Moline and Chicago is not moving forward because one entity is standing in the way of progress – the Iowa Interstate Railroad (IAIS). That’s the message Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, along with Illinois Sen. Mike Halpin and Illinois Rep. Gregg Johnson, delivered Monday morning, Feb. 27, during a news conference held at the Moline Police Department. The announcement, which attracted about 30 people, was meant to give an update on the progress of the rail service plan that has been in discussions since 2008. During the event, the mayor and other officials portrayed IAIS as uncooperative and solely responsible for standing in the way of the rail project by not agreeing to make track upgrades for the rail service. The Moline passenger rail project can only move forward with an agreement between IAIS and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to allow Amtrak to operate trains on tracks owned by IAIS. 

Illinois Rep. Johnson said he recently met with Amtrak officials and was told one party – IAIS – “is moving the goal posts” on the rail service project. The mayor said that IAIS appears to be more “interested in corporate welfare and someone else paying for their track improvements” than moving forward on the rail service project. Sen. Halpin called Monday’s news conference a “last resort” in trying to get IAIS to act in good faith and help make the rail passenger project a reality. “I had hoped we would get them to the table for negotiations. … Today, I’m not going to be silent anymore. (IAIS) is trying to get as many public dollars as possible,” he said. He added that about $500 million in federal and state funds have been pledged for the rail project. Sen. Halpin added that there has been a misconception in the public that state and federal officials have been delaying the rail project for various reasons over the years. But the truth is, he added, that the delays have all been at the hands of IAIS. “We’ve tried to be patient. … Now, it’s time to take a harder line,” he added. That harder line may come in a variety of measures, including:

• Mayor Rayapati is going to recommend the Moline City Council take alternative measures, such as applying for grants and working with the Quad Cities International Airport to spur additional transportation services.
• City and state officials want Amtrak to take action and file a complaint against IAIS with federal officials.
• Turn on the public pressure against IAIS to get the rail line to take action.

Sen. Halpin added the rail project has had the support of multiple presidential administrations, governors, state representatives, state senators, mayors and city councils. Despite agreement on the need for the project, IAIS, a private company that controls the 50 miles of track that would connect Chicago and the Quad Cities, has been a barrier to getting the project finalized. “I am urging Amtrak, with the support of the Illinois Department of Transportation, to initiate proceedings with the Surface Transportation Board to order Iowa Interstate to provide the necessary facilities and to order reasonable compensation to Iowa Interstate for the use of those facilities,” said Sen. Halpin. Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, and one of the people attending the Monday event, said he hopes those measures work. That’s because a rail service through Moline will greatly help the region in numerous ways, such as improving the area’s economy and tourism reach. “We want to see it happen. We are fully aligned with the mayor and Sen. Halpin to make this happen,” he added. Mr. Herrell later released this statement on the rail project: “We are fully confident that the benefits of adding a rail route from Chicago to Moline will add tremendous value and drive economic development benefits, positively impact tourism, create jobs, and bolster connectivity which is a recommendation within our Tourism Master Plan. In our destination’s SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis passenger rail is identified as a weakness for our market. We are still hopeful for an agreement between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Iowa Interstate (IAIS) Railroad but if that is not possible, we support other measures and solutions at the federal, state, and local levels to make passenger rail happen for Quad Citizens and potential visitors. This several decades conversation needs to get resolved one way or another for all parties involved.” Quad Cities Chamber officials they also hope the passenger rail project will find a way to move forward. "The Chamber has been a longtime advocate on supporting and securing state and federal funding for passenger rail," Chamber CEO LaDrina Wilson said in a statement released late Monday afternoon. "We've done so because we see this as an opportunity to invite people from all over the country to experience the greatness of the QC. It's unfortunate that our efforts to support this public-private partnership have not produced the outcome we'd hope for." Chamber officials added that the next step will be to meet with IDOT during the group's Tuesday, March 7, advocacy trip to Springfield. Even though officials said they are frustrated by IAIS’s lack of action on the rail project, some still expressed optimism that a deal will eventually be reached. “I have hope. This will be a huge, huge deal for the area,” said Illinois Rep. Johnson. This is the latest chapter in the passenger rail saga. Last spring, the Quad Cities Chamber urged Quad Citians to sign an online letter to help persuade IDOT and IAIS to work together to bring passenger trains to Moline. That campaign, called “It’s Time, Bring Passenger Rail to the QC,” urged the railroad and IDOT to come to an agreement on the infrastructure upgrades that are needed to support passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cities.  Part of the Quad Cities Chamber letter stated: “An agreement between IDOT and IAIS that will make passenger rail service from Chicago to the Quad Cities a reality is well overdue. Negotiations over this service between IDOT and IAIS entities need to move forward. New passenger rail service will help to grow the local economy, create jobs and connect the Quad Cities to more opportunities across Illinois. We implore you to strike a deal and make this happen.” When contacted Monday by the QCBJ, Iowa Interstate Railroad officials said they couldn’t offer a comment at this time. Founded in 1984, IAIS is a Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Class II regional railroad company operating in the Midwest between Chicago, Peoria and the Omaha area. It is one of the only regional railroads in the country with direct connections to all seven Class 1 railroads, according to information from the company.