Several Quad Cities leaders helped make history Tuesday, as they joined Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at Chicago Union Station for the signing of the state Transit Bill, securing $475 million in funding for the Chicago to Quad Cities Passenger Rail.

The nearly $900-million project has been a long-standing priority for regional leaders and marks a major step forward in connecting communities across Illinois, according to a city of Moline press release.

Members of the Rock Island County Passenger Rail Committee in attendance included:

• Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati, City of Moline
• State Representative Gregg Johnson
• Richard “Quijas” Brunk, Rock Island County Board Chair
• Doug House, Former Deputy Secretary of Transportation
• Ben Limmer, CEO, MetroLINK
• Jennifer Hirsch, Administration Director, MetroLINK

Gov. Pritzker’s signing of the Transit Bill ensures full funding for the passenger rail project, bringing the Quad Cities closer than ever to service that will strengthen regional connectivity, drive economic growth, and expand transportation options across Illinois.

Regional leaders expressed their appreciation to Governor Pritzker, Senator Mike Halpin, and Representative Gregg Johnson for their advocacy and commitment to delivering a transformational infrastructure investment for the Quad Cities.

Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati (far left) looks on as leaders applaud Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker at Chicago’s Union Station Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025 (City of Moline).

The legislation signed Tuesday, which state lawmakers approved in October after months of negotiations and several failed legislative attempts, will provide about $1.5 billion annually for regional transportation from a diversion of the motor fuel sales tax, an increase to a sales tax in the Chicago region and interest from the state’s road fund. The new law also raises tolls on the Illinois Tollway by 45 cents.

Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati emphasized the significance of the milestone for Moline and the QC:

“Today was a tremendous day to mark another step on the long journey we’ve been on to bring passenger rail to the Quad Cities. I’m very thankful for the thoughtfulness of our elected representatives who really pushed to make sure downstate Illinois benefited from the entire transit transformation bill. I look forward to building on this momentum in the year ahead as we move closer to making passenger rail service to Moline a reality.”

Representative Gregg Johnson underscored the long-term benefits for the community:

“This is about more than just convenient transportation – this rail line will be a lifeline to our community, creating economic development, enabling the growth of Western Illinois University, and supercharging our growing tourism industry. That growth in the economic and academic sectors will help grow our community and provide quality options to our kids’ generation so that they don’t have to leave home to find the opportunities they need.”

Richard ‘Quijas’ Brunk, Rock Island County Board Chair, highlighted the regional impact:

“The governor’s signature today moves us one step closer to bringing Quad Cities to Chicago passenger rail to fruition. With an estimated $30 million annual impact to our region, it will mean tremendous things for our communities. We are grateful for Governor Pritzker’s continued support.”

Doug House, who played a pivotal role in advocating for the project during his tenure at the Illinois Department of Transportation, reflected on the achievement:

“Securing this funding was unfinished business for me. This was something I had hoped to complete before leaving the Department of Transportation in 2022.” 

Ben Limmer, CEO of MetroLINK, emphasized the broader transportation impact:

“This is a transformative moment for mobility in Illinois. The signing of the Transit Bill not only advances passenger rail service connecting Chicago to our Quad Cities region, but it also reaffirms the state’s commitment to driving economic growth though strong, reliable public transportation. We are thankful to the Governor and legislative leaders for their vision and partnership in moving transportation forward.”

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.