Iowa Connections
Public information meeting
Public information meeting on possible passenger rail routes from Iowa City to ChicagoA public information meeting was held Sept. 29, 2009 in Moline, Ill., to provide an environmental report that evaluates proposed routes and potential impacts for new intercity passenger rail service between Chicago, the Quad Cities and Iowa City.
The environmental assessment report (EA) was released Thursday, Sept. 24, and is available for a 21-day public review and comment period. The document can be accessed on the project Web site and at local libraries along the corridor.
For more information, visit www.CHICAGOTOIOWACITY.com
A visioning plan for passenger rail
Iowa’s rail network offers a great opportunity for passenger rail service, connecting Iowa’s largest urban areas to Chicago and beyond. The Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), working with the State of Illinois, Iowa cities, planning organizations, and advocacy groups, has created a bold new vision called Iowa Connections.
The vision will create a passenger rail network that connects Iowans to each other and the country, and makes Iowa a more attractive place to live, work and visit.
Iowa Connections views passenger rail as a means to larger national and regional goals. The vision seeks to integrate passenger rail into the broader transportation system and make it a significant contributor to improved mobility, economic competitiveness, community revitalization, and reduced fuel use and emissions. It is a vision where travel by train is comfortable, efficient and reliable.
The vision uses an incremental approach to implementation - to increase service over time, based on market demand, operational feasibility and funding.
