Future of passenger rail debated at Iowa City meeting

IOWA CITY - Proponents of extending passenger rail service in the state met Saturday to discuss the possibility of a link between Chicago and Iowa City.

Many at the meeting of the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers seemed hopeful that the state will accept

$87 million in federal funding that has been set aside for the project.

“The city views it not only as a transportation advantage and quality of life amenity for our community, but we also see it as a prime economic development tool,” said Geoff Fruin, assistant to the Iowa City manager.

Fruin said investment from the state to go along with the federal funding is crucial.

“There is a regional network growing around us. The state of Illinois, Chicago being the hub, then it goes up into Michigan and Wisconsin, Minneapolis, Indiana, even into Missouri,” he said.

Barton Jennings, chairman of the 2012 National Railway Historical Society Convention, which is set to be held June 18-24 in Cedar Rapids, said he is in favor of passenger rail service, as long as plans fully reflect the impact it would have on freight trains. He said passenger rail can take up the space of two or three freight trains.

“When freight trains make $100,000, you are starting to look at the fact that a passenger train is going to cost you a couple hundred thousand dollars,” Jennings said.

Jennings said he was skeptical of how passenger rail service would intersect with freight service.

“Here, 40 to 50 percent of all freight moves by rail. If we did what Europe did and threw the freight off the rail, you are looking at two to three times more trucks on the highway,” Jennings said.

An Iowa Department of Transportation study on passenger rail service is expected to be complete in November. Residents can go here to share their input or get more information.

Fruin said he hopes lawmakers will see the service as a positive investment in the state.

“I think it's hard because you can't see it here now. It was here, and it's gone and we can't look at it and get a sense of what the potential may be,” he said.