Census 2020 and Complete Count Committees
April 24, 2019 – Rachel Bruce, Bi-State Regional Commission Planner, reported that Census Day is April 1, 2020, but outreach efforts began as early as 2018 with the coordination of programs like the Boundary and Annexation Survey (BAS) and Participant Statistical Areas Program (PSAP). These programs gave local jurisdictions the opportunity to review and propose modifications to boundaries for census tracts, block groups, and census designated places (CDPs) to ensure that the Census Bureau accurately represents the geography of the region. This summer, the Census Bureau will begin address canvassing to verify structures and addresses for the questionnaire mailing. Canvassing is expected to last until August, and the Census Bureau has already begun hiring workers for canvassing activities and in preparation for Census Day.
Transportation Work Planning Programs for 2020
March 27, 2019 – Bi-State Regional Commission receives federal pass through funds to plan for short and long-range transportation needs. Planning areas are the Quad Cities and Region 9 for rural Scott County and Muscatine County, Iowa. Key travel issues in these areas include improving river crossing capacity; reducing congestion; maintaining good standing for air quality; and coordinating maintenance, operations, and improvements between the modes of transportation for an effective system to move people and goods.
Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Progress Report 2019
March 27, 2019 – In February, Rachel Bruce, Planner with Bi-State Regional Commission, provided a draft of the demographics section of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy 2019 Progress Report (CEDS PR), which breaks down regional statistics on people, place, and the economy. Ms. Bruce also handed out a listing of completed, underway, and planned economic development-related projects in the Bi-State Region. She urged Commissioners to read through those lists and encourage their community employees to provide information on known projects they want included in the plan.
Colonel Marr Presents Arsenal Initiatives
January 23, 2019 – Colonel Stephen Marr, Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) Garrison Commander, provided a presentation to the Commission. He manages services and facilities for the 950 acre (1.5 square mile) Arsenal Island.
The Garrison has four overall priorities:
- Infrastructure - Addressing the urgent infrastructure challenges brought on by a decade of underinvestment
- Protection - Focusing on installation and full scale protection
- Soldier/Civilian Employee Programs - Improving the readiness and resilience of individual soldiers and civilians
- Family Programs - Improving the readiness and resilience of Army families, in order to allow soldiers to focus on their military occupation
Report on Studies to Improve Interstate 80
December 19, 2018 – Sam Shea, District 6 planner for the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), reported on the status of planning for improvements to the Interstate 80 corridor and bridge over the Mississippi River. Both the Iowa and Illinois DOTs are now preparing to conduct a Planning and Environmental Linkages Study for the I-80 Bridge. Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) represents a collaborative and integrated approach to transportation decision-making. The PEL process considers environmental, community, and economic goals early in the transportation planning process and uses the information and analysis developed during planning to inform the environmental review process. The common benefits of PEL are to:
- Reduce duplication
- Assist the environmental review process
- Develop documentation
- Save costs and time
- Provide a holistic and flexible approach
- Enhance community involvement
- Improve relationships and coordination