Johnson County commits to supporting Iowa City-Chicago rail

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will send a letter to state transportation officials pledging local contributions for passenger rail operations between Iowa City and Chicago.

The supervisors approved the move 5-0 at a meeting on Thursday night, but some of the board members expressed frustration that the state has not committed more support to the rail project.

“The governor should just step up and pay these matching funds or say he doesn't want a railroad here,” Supervisor Janelle Rettig said, adding that reducing traffic on Interstate 80 should be a state priority.

“I think it's a state project and it should be paid for with state dollars.”

The federal government has committed $230 million to building an Iowa City-Chicago passenger rail. The proposed line would pass through the Quad Cities, and advocates say they'll push to eventually extend it to Des Moines. However, Gov. Terry Branstad has said he does not support picking up Iowa's share of operating costs, estimated at $3 million annually.

Other local governing bodies have also indicated they would offer support to the train, including the Iowa City City Council.

Supervisor Sally Stutsman said she understands with the governor's hesitation.

“Why should the taxpayer in Odebolt, Iowa contribute to something that's really not gonna have an impact on them?” she said. “In this current administration, it's not going to get done so if this is the compromsie we have to come up with to get this taken care of then that's what we're going to do.”

Board members were also noted that other localities have more avenues of raising revenue, like raising hotel taxes, than the county does. County support for the passenger rail would likely come from a property tax increase or from cutting other services.

The county has not yet approved exactly how much it would be willing to contribute if plans for the Iowa City-Chicago project move forward.