Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE)

The City of East Moline was awarded a 23.7 million dollar RAISE grant! More information here.

This web page contains the grant narrative and supporting documents for the City of East Moline's RAISE 2022 discretionary grant application.

East Moline has been working for some time on an overall master plan to improve connectivity, equity, and accessibility in the downtown area. This year, the city embarked on an all-inclusive effort to create a comprehensive, sustainable Greater Downtown community that better integrates key goals of economic prosperity, social vibrancy, ecological integrity, and human experiences.

Overview

Strengthening Downtown, Connecting Communities

East Moline’s Greater Downtown Revitalization Project would better connect the City’s older downtown core – centered around 15th Avenue – and new entertainment and tourism attractions to its north. The project was developed through a collaborative downtown master planning process that matched resident and local business goals with targeted improvements.

While East Moline is proud of its manufacturing legacy, declines in industry have diminished activity downtown, leading to disinvestment. The project would Greater Downtown East Moline a much-needed, sustainable face-lift while dramatically improving safety and connectivity. The overall project will improve connections to the community’s greatest natural asset: the Mississippi River.

The project builds on continuing investments in East Moline’s riverfront, including redevelopment of brownfield industrial sites between 12th Avenue and the Mississippi River. The City’s work has attracted an event center, hotel, and music venue that are drawing significant foot traffic and tourism. However, in its current configuration, 12th Avenue serves as a barrier to connectivity that prevents this economic activity from carrying over into the City’s downtown core. Similarly, residents of downtown areas and patrons of downtown shops and restaurants are unable to safely access transit, recreational opportunities, and jobs at these sites and throughout the Quad Cities region.

East Moline’s Greater Downtown Revitalization Project would:

Enhance pedestrian connectivity through trail connections, added crossings, and improved sidewalks
Give residents and visitors more transportation options through improved access to transit stops, bike facilities, and trails
Provide blocks of curb-less “festival” streetscaping that would enhance accessibility, aesthetics, and flexibility by creating a multi use pedestrian spaces between shops and streets.
Convert a passive pedestrian rail crossing at 7th Street to an active crossing, improving safety and facilitating connection between the districts
Reduce storm-water runoff through use of green infrastructure throughout downtown
Improve quality of life and strengthen economic development through a renewed sense of place in Downtown East Moline

Downtown District

Full street reconstruction
Curbless “festival” streets with widened pedestrian zone
Upgraded pedestrian ramps and sidewalk pathways, including ADA improvements
Reconstructed and improved streetscaping along 15th Avenue
Multi use spaces between streets and shops for outdoor seating, eating, sales, etc.
Green infrastructure improvements –stormwater planters and permeable parking and increased canopy and shade
Lighting improvements
Wayfinding and signage

Rust Belt Connection

New sidewalks and streetscape on 7^th Street and 12^th Avenue, connecting this area to The Bend and Downtown Districts
Upgraded at-grade rail crossings and safety enhancement
Traffic-calming features and reduced speed limit on 12^th Avenue
New multi-use path
Wayfinding and streetscaping to maintain continuity with Downtown District
Increased lighting
Enhanced transit access for buses, weekend trolley stops.

The Bend District Improvements

Added multi-modal connections, including bike route, transit facilities, and pedestrian connections to Great River Trail
New sidewalks to connect additional development
Extension of Bend Boulevard and 6^th Avenue to 7^th Street
Connection to Rust Belt District
Wayfinding and streetscaping to maintain continuity with Downtown District

Narrative

With a RAISE Grant, the City would have the opportunity to implement proposed enhancements to the Greater Downtown area and improve connectivity between the 15^th Avenue Downtown district, The Rust Belt, and The Bend. If the RAISE Grant was awarded, the project would include:

15^th Avenue reconstruction & streetscaping (i.e. complete street: vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists)
between 6^th Street and 13^th Street
12^th Avenue reconstruction & streetscaping between 1^st Street and 7^th Street
7^th Street streetscaping & RR crossing enhancements between 12^th Street and 15^th Avenue
Bend Boulevard & 3^rd Street streetscaping through The Bend
Extend Bend Boulevard (complete street) to 7^th Street for connectivity & development corridor