Peoria Station

Back in 2005, it was first reported that the City of Davenport, Iowa made plans to construct a rail spur from an existing rail line to a new industrial park located on the city’s northwest side. Known as the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center, it attracted the interest of Ferguson Enterprises, but due to lack of rail service, lost a $21 million development when Ferguson instead chose a site in Waterloo.  On Monday, the City of Davenport petitioned the Surface Transportation Board for construction of a 2.8-mile line to provide rail service to the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center. See map below for reference.

So what does this have to do with Peoria? It’s simple, for many years, Peoria pitched a rail-served Growth Cell Two to prospective industrial users. The project had inherent flaws, but nevertheless, the fact that the light-industrial zoned acreage located west of Allen Road already had rail access (since 1962 in fact, more than three decades before the growth cell’s birth), was a considerable advantage over other industrial parks in the region.

Unfortunately, the growth cell was used as a pawn in the sad fight over the Kellar Branch. The City’s attitude seemingly became, “abandon the Kellar Branch for a trail, or no Growth Cell Two.” Until recent revelation of a deal involving the railroads and a developer willing to buy out their interests in the branchline, the City didn’t get its way, and out of spite, determined to re-zone Growth Cell Two to commercial, rather than light industrial use.

In contrast, the City of Davenport, Iowa, some years ago established an industrial park on its northwest side but upon learning of its limitations in attracting some prospective tenants, decided to provide it with rail access. They’re now prepared to spend several million dollars because they understand that economic growth cannot be sustained solely by retail, commercial and residential development.

Sadly, Peoria’s movers and shakers fail to recognize that their city’s greenfield already possesses an advantage Davenport’s industrial park does not yet have – rail access. It need only fund utility and roadway improvements, and employ effective marketing. This isn’t about the Kellar Branch anymore, as it will soon be dismembered; it’s about true economic development that is still possible. And it’s not too late.

A local train of then-Iowa Chicago & Eastern backs down the Kellar Branch-esque “Eldridge Spur” on September 30, 2006 after pulling empty steel cars from Roll & Hold’s processing facility. The now Canadian Pacific-owned line will benefit from increased traffic in the not-too-distant future if the City of Davenport can successfully lure businesses to a newly rail-served Eastern Iowa Industrial Center.

- David P. Jordan