Quad cities rail coalition gets Obama stimulus funds

Add comment March 11th, 2009

Congratulations to the Quad Cities folks who are organized and have their act together when it comes to advocating for passenger rail from Chicago to the Quad. Here’s a news release from their rail advocacy group which you can access at qcrail.com. Will Rockford get any of the billions in rail funding in the stimulus?

1. Quad Cities-Chicago Route Receives First Ever Funding

   President Barack Obama signed the Fiscal Year 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act today, which included a $475,000 earmark for Quad Cities track improvements.  The earmark was secured by Rep. Phil Hare (IL-17) at the request of the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition.  Today marks the first ever federal or state funding specifically allocated to restore passenger rail service on the much anticipated Chicago to Quad Cities route.  While $22.7 million is needed to complete the entire Quad Cities route, IL DOT will receive $475,000 to begin track improvements identified in the 2008 Amtrak Feasibility Study.  “This funding is a historic milestone for the Quad Cities,” said Paul Rumler, Executive Director of the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition.  “QC Rail thanks Congressman Hare for securing this funding and the entire Quad Cities Congressional Delegation for their continued support.  All of QC Rail’s 6,500 individual members and 130 government, business, labor, and community organization supporters should be proud to know their advocacy efforts are being successful.” QC Rail has been actively organizing supporters and advocating to state and federal legislators since forming the coalition in May 2007.  Just in recent months, QC Rail has met with congressional staff in the Quad Cities and twice visited with Congressmen and Senators on Capital Hill in Washington, DC.  Members of QC Rail will return to Washington, DC next week to discuss funding the remainder of the project. Just last month, President Obama and Congress passed the $787 billion Economic Stimulus proposal, which included the largest ever funding amount for passenger rail in United States history.  A total of $9.3 billion was allocated for passenger rail - $8 billion for intercity and high speed rail corridors and $1.3 billion for Amtrak.  QC Rail has requested IL DOT and IA DOT apply for stimulus funding for the Chicago-Quad Cities-Iowa City route when it becomes available.  U.S. DOT Secretary Ray LaHood will release a funding strategy for the $8 billion in April and project funding criteria in June. “Today’s funding demonstrates how real Quad Cities Amtrak service has become,” said Jim Bohnsack, Chairman of the Quad Cities Passenger Rail Coalition.  “This project has been a longtime priority of the Quad Cities and QC Rail will keep pushing to make sure the route is fully funded.”  Â

   Thank Your Area Congressmen and Senators
   Please contact your members of the Quad Cities Congressional Delegation and thank them.

Fire Union president: Four firefighters to a truck is essential

Add comment March 11th, 2009

Just got off the phone with EJ Dilonardo, president of Rockford Firefighters Local 413. It wasn’t the union that suggested higher ambulance fees, EJ sez, but the Morrissey administration.

EJ also says that the union has offered about $1.2 million in savings to the city, “in wages and in hours.”

One issue on which the union is not likely to budge is truck staffing levels. The city wants three to a truck, the union maintains that four is the minimum needed:

“When the mayor says shared responsibility, that means citizens are at more risk, and they don’t’ save any money, they just assume more risk. We’re going to be advocates for citizens. I believe in negotiations. We’ve put our money where our mouth is,” says EJ.

“We’ve offered about $1.2 million in concessions, in both wages and hours. The city now needs to find the rest of the money in their general fund. They can bridge this gap and keep the fire service functioning at the level it is. ”
“They’ve asked me questions like, if you were to get a raise, would you go to three firefighters on a truck? And the answer is No. You can’t pay a firefighter enough to trade away public safety. You couldn’t offer a 42.6 percent pay raise and expect us to trade away public safety. We would not do it.”