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Project details
The proposed passenger rail route would connect Iowa City/Cedar Rapids (390,000 residents) to Chicago (8 million residents) via the Quad Cities (400,000 residents) with extended service to Des Moines (500,000 residents) and Omaha (820,000 residents). Amtrak has completed feasibility studies for service from Chicago to the Quad Cities, and Quad Cities to Iowa City. Iowa DOT has also requested an Amtrak study extending the route to Des Moines and on to Council Bluffs. Click here to view the route.
In January 2010, Iowa was awarded $1 million by the federal government to study a route between Chicago and Omaha via Des Moines. Connecting these two major hubs is beneficial for the state and potentially securing passenger rail between Chicago and Omaha via Iowa City in the future.
SCOPE
- Daily frequency – 2 round trips
- Estimated running time – 4 hours 58 minutes
- Estimated annual ridership - 187,000
- Speed - 79 mph
WHY NOW?
- $2.5 billion in 2010 appropriations for passenger rail in the economic stimulus bill, dwindling energy reserves and fluctuating gas prices
- The memorandum of understanding among eight Midwest governors and between Iowa Governor Culver and Illinois Governor Quinn, support from Amtrak and the freight railroads, communities like Iowa City committed to serving passengers, and enthusiastic and supportive Iowans makes this an attractive project.
- Eastern Iowa economic recovery from the floods of 2008
RIDERSHIP & REASONS TO VISIT IOWA CITY
- 5,800 University of Iowa students come from Illinois
- Big Ten athletics
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Iowa City Veterans Hospital
- Diverse population including elderly, disabled, business and recreation travelers
BENEFITS FOR IOWA
- Business development
- Increased property values
- Permanent job creation
- Improved quality of life
- Increased tourism
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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