Bi-State Regional Commission

Colonel Todd Allison, Garrison Commander for the Rock Island Arsenal, manages services and facilities for the 946 acres of Arsenal Island, which has a significant global and strategic reach. Since 1862, the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) has been a national treasure and cornerstone of the Bi-State Region. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in1988, which includes historic Quarters One built in 1871, the swing-span bridge completed in 1896, the Browning Museum built in 1905 (the Army’s second oldest), the Clock Tower Building built in1867, the hydroelectric plant built in 1901, the National Cemetery established in 1863 and still active, the Arsenal Island Golf Course established in1897, and Fort Armstrong established in 1816.

Colonel Allison said that RIA is the largest local employer in the Bi-State Region with 5,089 civilian, 471 military, and 669 contracted employees; 42% of this workforce are veterans. The induced employment impact of RIA is over 14,000 community jobs. The regional reach may also be demonstrated through the distribution of the employees of RIA that are 54% from Iowa and 43% from Illinois. Salaries average $75,989, and the local economic impact of is over $1.2 billion per year.

Iowa Region 9 is in the process of reviewing and finalizing the 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan draft document and is looking for public input. For more information, click the link below.

pdf 2045 LRTP Plan Review Public Input Meeting Newsletter(673 KB)

There has been significant progress made on the I-74 Bridge Project and the westbound bridge is set to open by the end of November 2020.  The I-74 Bridge Corridor project has been the top priority transportation project of the Bi-State Regional Commission since 1998.  Even though there have been many changes in elected and state officials since 1998, through their leadership the project has continued to move forward.  Each new official has supported the project for over 20 years.  Local and state leadership changes have included: 

• Bettendorf – 3 Mayors
• Davenport – 6 Mayors
• Scott County – 10 County Board Chairs
• East Moline – 4 Mayors
• Moline – 4 Mayors 
• Rock Island – 3 Mayors
• Rock Island County – 5 County Board Chairs
• Iowa DOT District Office – 3 District Engineers
• Illinois DOT District Office – 9 District Engineers

Work to acquire initial funding for the project even included testifying in 2003 to the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.  Over $88 million Federal discretionary dollars were received for the approximately $1.2 billion-dollar project between 2001-2010 through the efforts of federal legislators serving the Bi-State Region.

The I-74 Bridge construction period was reduced from 8 years to reduce costs and traffic was maintained through corridor to reduce disruption to the public. Notably, traffic remained steady with a 2019 count of 69,000 during construction.  The project includes numerous mainline and specialty contracts with over 300 construction workers on average per day.  

Both the east and westbound reconstructed I-74 Bridge spans will have three lanes in each direction with an additional auxiliary lane between the first ramp in downtown Bettendorf and the first ramp in downtown Moline.  It will also have full shoulders allowing for disabled vehicles to be removed from the travel lanes and giving emergency vehicles access in the event of an incident.  Information on the project has been published in numerous engineering and bridge trade journals.  The reconstructed I-74 Bridge is being built to last 100 years and it will have increased protection for seismic occurrences and barge collisions.  Additionally, it will include a rare interstate multi-purpose trail along the downstream (eastbound) span with access to the Mississippi River Trails in Moline and Bettendorf.   Information may be found at www.I74RiverBridge.com.

The 2020 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Progress Report will be available for review through the next Bi-State Regional Commission meeting set for April 22.  Comments should be directed to Rachel Hanson and Tara Cullison.

2020 CEDS Progress Report - Final Draft

The Bi-State Regional Commission Teleconference Meeting is set for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Please reference the packet and draft 2020 CEDS Progress Report documents below.

March 25, 2020 Bi-State Regional Commission Meeting Packet

2020 CEDS Progress Report Draft

February 26, 2020 – Jessica Brooks, a hydrologist with the National Weather Service, presented on the spring flood outlook at the February 26 Bi-State Regional Commission meeting. Spring rains and the rate of snowmelt will influence the severity of flooding, she explained, which are difficult to forecast months in advance with high degrees of certainty. However, four other factors that can be measured at present suggest long-duration flooding is possible on the Mississippi this spring.

January 22, 2020 – Colonel Stephen Marr, Commander, U.S. Army Garrison – Rock Island Arsenal, provided a presentation to the Commission. He manages services and facilities for the 946 acres Arsenal Island which has a significant global and strategic reach. The Garrison has three overall priorities:

• Infrastructure – Addressing the urgent infrastructure challenges brought on by a decade of underinvestment
• Protection – Focusing on installation protection exercises and full scale exercises
• Soldier/Civilian/Family Programs – Programs and services designated to improve the readiness and resilience of soldiers, civilians, and families, in order to allow their people to focus on their missions

December 18, 2019 – George Ryan, P.E. I-74 Corridor Manager, provided an overview on the status of the I-74 Bridge Corridor Project. He reviewed the progress of the various contractors on all projects that had been let for bid and information regarding future lettings.

November 20, 2019 – Herb Kuryliw, Director of Sales & Business Development for iFiber and Dan Payette Executive Director of Blackhawk Hills Regional Council presented on the potential for Bi-State Regional Commission to partner with Blackhawk Hills and North Central Illinois Council of Governments in an Economic Development Agency (EDA) application to extend fiber optics into to the their respective region. They noted that iFiber would write the application and provide the required match.

October 23, 2019 – Jim Tank, Bi-State Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Board Member and RLF Program Representative to Bi-State Regional Commission, and Donna Moritz, Revolving Loan Fund Program Administrator, presented information about the Revolving Loan Fund Programs in the Bi-State Region.

Bi-State Revolving Loan Fund Program. The Bi-State Revolving Loan Fund in Rock Island and Scott Counties is celebrating 34 years of providing gap financing to businesses. Since the inception of the program in 1985, over $10.7 million has been loaned to 114 businesses in Rock Island and Scott Counties. These loans have helped generate nearly $441 million in total investments, accessing city and state public financing programs, financial institutions, and company equity. In addition, over 3,900 jobs have been created/retained in the two county area. Currently, there is approximately $800,000 available to loan.