Seek more info on suspended CRANDIC proposal

I have lived within a mile of the CRANDIC tracks on which now-suspended Pop-Up Metro proposes to operate, and I have watched rail operations on this line over the years. Prior to 1985, CRANDIC operated freight trains from Iowa City to Cedar Rapids almost daily, some as long as 100 cars. After the bankruptcy of the Milwaukee Road, CRANDIC purchased the Milwaukee line from Cedar Rapids to the Amanas. Eventually the heavy freight traffic was changed to the Amana line.

Today there is only one customer (Centro in North Liberty) receiving rail service on the line between Iowa City and Swisher. This customer is served out of Iowa City once or twice a week. It is hard to imagine how Pop-Up Metro’s trains would interfere with that twice a week switch job.

In 1988 a communications cable was laid along the CRANDIC line through Coralville. As far as I know, this cable is still in operation, and the CRANDIC no doubt makes money for hosting it. The line thus serves a dual purpose.

As for liability and regulatory concerns, it is fair to assume that Pop-Up Metro would carry the appropriate liability insurance for its operations and would meet all regulatory requirements for passenger rail operations. I think the CRANDIC owes the public more detail on its objections to the Pop-Up Metro service and your reporter should have pressed Jeff Woods for that information. I look forward to reading more detail in future Gazette reports.

Tom Persoon

Coralville