The annual presentation of Rock Island's Advanced Technology and Sustainability Consortium (ATSC) Mark W. Schwiebert Sustainability Leadership Award will be held on Monday, January 19, 2015 at 6:45pm during a meeting of the Rock Island City Council.
The 2014 award recipient is MetroLINK (Rock Island County Metropolitan Mass Transit District). This multi-county public transit system serves the communities of Carbon Cliff, Colona, East Moline, Hampton, Milan, Moline, Rock Island and Silvis, IL.
Although the opening of the Operations and Maintenance Center is the most recent addition to MetroLINK's operations, this award is not based solely on that construction. This award took into consideration their entire range of operations. MetroLINK was selected for the following reasons:
Operations and Maintenance Center:
- The facility incorporates elements such as:
o A rooftop with a system with 1,344 Photovoltaic Solar Panels to provide electricity needs
o A 32 panel solar thermal hot water system to heat water used for vehicle washing
o Water use reduction through bus wash recycling
o Heat recovery systems
o Use of bio swales and native grasses to control storm water runoff
o Radiant in-floor heating system in maintenance area
o An indoor CNG and Diesel refueling station
District Station:
· Metro's District Station replaces an outdated (1978), on-street transfer location and offers a number of passenger amenities including real time next bus information- The Station incorporates a number of sustainable elements, including a photovoltaic roof, occupancy-controlled lighting and the re-use of rooftop water runoff for the Station's water feature.
General Operations:
- MetroLINK has been a leader in environmentally friendly policies for over a decade, committing to green technologies through the use of Compressed Natural Gas vehicles and bio diesel fuel, utilizing innovative energy sources in capital infrastructure pieces, and promoting the environmental benefits of using transit to potential riders.
- Since 2002, MetroLINK has acquired forty two (42) CNG-powered buses, accounting for nearly 75% of its fixed-route fleet.
Headquartered in Moline, MetroLINK provides transportation services throughout the Quad City Area to over 3.2 million riders a year. MetroLINK strives to drive economic development, transportation infrastructure and livable communities throughout the area.
The ATSC was created in 2006 by former Mayor Mark Schwiebert to work with technology oriented businesses located in Rock Island. The ATSC was developed to:
- Provide networking opportunities for businesses that are developing or are significant
users of technology.
- Determine how the City can better support businesses that are technology oriented or
have an interest in sustainability concepts, processes, or products.
- Explore technology based enterprise to increase Rock Island's visibility and brand the
City as being a tech friendly community.
Members of ATSC established the Mark W. Schwiebert Sustainability Leadership Award in April 2009. This award was created to honor former Mayor Schwiebert for his 20 years of service to Rock Island and for his work in the area of sustainable initiatives. This special award is given annually to a business, organization, or individual demonstrating outstanding leadership in the area of green or sustainable initiatives.
The ATSC currently has 50 members. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at City Hall. Contact Magda Dziembowski at (309) 732-2909 or dziembowski.magda@rigov.org for membership information.
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