Rail money all but guaranteed for Quad City to Chicago line, according to local leader
Chris Williams 8 On Your Side Reporter

11:50 a.m. CDT, March 20, 2009
This morning the Quad City Development Group announced results of their trip to Washington, D.C. where they met with lawmakers and pushed for funding of local projects. According to Rock Island County Board Chairman Jim Bohnsack, the money for rail service between the Quad Cities and Chicago is all but guaranteed.

Bohnsack described a conversation with Congressman Phil Hare saying, "Congressman Hare said that, you know, it's gonna happen. He said I got this money. I went up to Oberstar (meaning Minnesota Congressman Jim Oberstar who heads the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee) with a note saying, and he said, before I got to Oberstar he said, it's gonna happen. We're gonna get you the money. It's gonna be there. So I would say, 99 percent that rail system is gonna happen from here to Chicago."

Bohnsack and other members of the Quad City delegation said they thought rail service could begin in the next two years.

We'll have more tonight on News 8 at 5 and 6.