03.10.11

Durbin Meets With Quad Cities Chamber and Labor Leaders to Discuss Regional Priorities

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today met with leaders from the Quad Cities region who were in Washington, D.C. for their annual fly-in to discuss their priorities including Rock Island Arsenal, Amtrak service to the Quad Cities and economic recovery. Durbin asked for the group’s help in opposing H.R.1 funding cuts that eliminate all unobligated funding for current and future high speed rail projects.

“The Quad Cities region does a great job of coming together across party lines, municipal and state lines to promote a unified agenda,” said Durbin. “I was happy to meet with members of the group today and look forward to working with them in the future.”

The QC delegation has a great history of coming together to promote a collective agenda for the betterment of the entire region. The group played an integral role in securing a $230 million federal grant to bring Amtrak service from Chicago to the Quad Cities and on to Iowa City. The line will create nearly 600 jobs per year in the first four years of design and construction and will make two daily roundtrips with an estimated annual ridership of 246,800.