Rep. Gregg Johnson Resolution Advocating for Quad Cities Rail Project Advances to House Floor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Today, Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-Rock Island, passed House Resolution 167 out of committee. HR 167 is a resolution that urges Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to make a formal request to the National Surface Transportation Board to compel the Iowa Interstate Railroad to enter into an agreement on the Quad Cities passenger rail project.

“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. Getting passenger rail service from Chicago to the Quad Cities could be an economic game changer for our region,” said Johnson. “We know that over 70,000 people flew between Chicago and the Quad Cities Airport. Our area has a billion-dollar visitor economy that employs over 8,600 people. Passenger rail service, along with other infrastructure upgrades, will be what powers our economic future here in the Quad Cities.”