Union Pacific investing $109 million in Iowa

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Union Pacific railroad, with nearly 1,400 miles of tracking in Iowa, plans to spend $109 million this year on maintenance and upgrades.

Omaha-based UP has earmarked $12 million for replacement of 83,300 railroad ties and installation of 25,100 tons of rock ballast between Belle Plaine and Ames. Crews also will repair the surfaces at 67 road crossings.

The railroad, with just more than 1,800 employees in Iowa and annual payroll of $147.4 million, will invest $18.3 million in the rail line between Bradford and near Mason City to replace more than 34 miles of rail, repair the surfaces at 37 road crossings and replace seven switches.

UP also plans a $13.3 million investment in the rail line between Garden City and Grant to replace nearly 23 miles of rail, repair the surfaces at 30 road crossings and replace nine switches.

Donna Kush, UP vice president, public affairs, northern region, said in a news release that the $109 million investment in Iowa this year is part of an ongoing investment strategy. From 2010 to 2014 UP spent $359 million on its Iowa infrastructure.

UP plans to spend $4.2 billion on infrastructure repairs and improvements across its multistate network this year.

UP primarily serves unit train shippers and large corn and soybean facilities in Iowa, as well as the ethanol industry. The railroad delivers millions of tons of coal each year to utility and agriculture-based customers.

UP's east-west rail corridor provides a direct route from Chicago to the West Coast, while the north-south 'Spine Line” running through Des Moines connects Minneapolis-St. Paul and Kansas City.