Not long ago Amtrak released the results of a feasibility study on a passenger rail link between Iowa City, the Quad Cities, and Chicago. (Later this year the next phase of the study will examine extending passenger rail to Des Moines as well.)
A few days ago, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) introduced the 2008 Amtrak Reauthorization Bill, which (according to a press release from Braley’s office)
includes language to create a new, $500 million per year “State Capital Grant Program.” The program would award federal grants to states to pay for the construction of new passenger rail service between US cities.
Projects that could apply for funding under this program include proposed passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cities, the Quad Cities and Des Moines via Iowa City, and Chicago and Dubuque.
The bill also includes a Braley-sponsored provision mandating a Federal Railroad Administration study into the viability of the widespread use of biolubricants in freight and passenger rail as an alternative to petroleum-based lubricants. The University of Northern Iowa’s National Ag-Based Lubricant Center (NABL) is located in Iowa’s First District.
The full text of the press release is after the jump.
I appreciate Braley’s leadership on this issue and wonder why my own Congressman Leonard Boswell hasn’t made passenger rail service between Chicago and Des Moines more of a priority in his work on the House Transportation Committee. My family would love to be able to take a train to Chicago. It would be much easier for us than traveling by car or plane with two small children.
Expanding passenger rail will also help us reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and will be more cost-effective as the price of oil continues to rise in the long term.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2008Contact: Jeff Giertz, Communications Director
jeff.giertz@mail.house.gov
(202) 226-4026 (office)
(202) 297-6745 (cell)Braley Introduces Bill Boosting Prospects of Rail Connections Between Dubuque, Quad Cities and Chicago
Braley Cosponsor of Amtrak Reauthorization Act with Transportation Committee Leaders
Washington, DC – Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) today introduced the 2008 Amtrak Reauthorization Bill with House Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) and other members of the Transportation Committee.
Braley is an original cosponsor of the bill, which includes language to create a new, $500 million per year “State Capital Grant Program.” The program would award federal grants to states to pay for the construction of new passenger rail service between US cities. Projects that could
apply for funding under this program include proposed passenger rail service between Chicago and the Quad Cities, the Quad Cities and Des
Moines via Iowa City, and Chicago and Dubuque.The bill also includes a Braley-sponsored provision mandating a Federal Railroad Administration study into the viability of the widespread use of biolubricants in freight and passenger rail as an alternative to petroleum-based lubricants. The University of Northern Iowa’s National Ag-Based Lubricant Center (NABL) is located in Iowa’s First District.
“With gas prices approaching four dollars per gallon, we need to invest in transportation alternatives that give people alternatives to
driving,” Braley said. “Passenger rail has the potential to be a viable alternative in many places, including the Chicago region. The Amtrak
bill will help make frequent, efficient passenger rail service between Dubuque and the Quad Cities to Chicago a reality. The bill will also help advance emerging biotechnology like biolubricants.”
4 Comments
Definitely the way to go
In addition to passenger rail, we should also be investing in improving freight rail and marine transportation systems. It would be good to get some of those trucks off of I-80. It’s pretty darn stupid to truck all this stuff across the country.
rf Mon 12 May 10:10 PM
I think when they made over the interstate
they really should have included carpool and bus lanes, and they should’ve took a page from San Francisco’s playbook and have light rail running right where the interstate dividers are now. I just visited SF this spring and it was amazing. I drove in from Los Angeles and as you’re driving on the interstate into SF and metro all you see is wind turbines on the mountains and light rail right next to you. Then it’s the Bay Bridge into the city. They also have zero-emissions buses that run on electricity all throughout the city. Des Moines and Iowa as a whole can really grow it’s economy exponentially if we just start becoming leaders in green energy. Although the progress so far has been slow, it is definitely starting. I went to Hy-Vee today in very Evangelical/conservative Johnston and was shocked at all the people that brought their own bags. It gives me hope. And also to see some corporations actually starting to step up, for example, Hy-Vee sells their reusable green bags for .99 cents and they’re actually quite sturdy and roomy. Also, when I went down the aisle of Hy-Vee and saw the Clorox Greenworks line at the same price as regular Clorox. It just made it that much easier to get the more environmentally-friendly version.
isucyclones94 Mon 12 May 11:59 PM
Braley has...
been an exceedingly pleasant surprise since being elected. I hope this gets some traction. Having lived in Iowa City as a student, it just makes so much sense and would be a boon to DM as well. Iowa really needs to do everything it can to connect with KC/Omaha/MSP/STL/CHI if it wants to grow economically.
bjazz Thu 15 May 12:33 AM
I couldn't agree more
I would love to be able to hop on a train to any of the cities you mentioned.
I think business travelers would use those services as well. You can get a lot of work done while riding on a train–more than you can while driving or dealing with all the airport hassles these days.
desmoinesdem Thu 15 May 11:31 AM