Senate makes bid for Eastern Iowa passenger rail funding

Hopes for passenger rail in Eastern Iowa could be back on track if Democrats in the Iowa Senate persevere in their quest to get state funding approved in a House-Senate conference committee.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a revised version of House File 638 that called for general fund spending of $5.5 million in each of the next two fiscal years for Iowa's multimodal transportation system. The committee voted 13-8 on Monday to send their overall Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund (RIIF) budget bill to the full Senate for consideration. Democrats hold a 26-24 edge in the Iowa Senate.

“I hope it sends a strong signal to the feds that we're committed to passenger rail and I hope that the House can go along with this,” said Sen. Matt McCoy, D-Des Moines, who indicated state Department of Transportation officials would use the money to “close the gap” in providing Iowa funding for the passenger rail project.

Last week Republicans who control the Iowa House rejected funding for a feasibility study, arguing that passenger rail will never be self-supporting and only possible with continuing state subsidies in turning down minority Democrats attempt to secure $5.5 million in each of the next two years for multimodal transportation.

State transportation officials hope to have results available soon from a feasibility study for connecting passenger rail service already in the works from Chicago to the Quad Cities at least on west to Iowa City with long-term plans to continue through Des Moines to Omaha, Neb. Up to $20.6 million in state investments will be needed to secure an $87 million grant to Iowa from the Federal Railroad Administration to upgrade tracks to handle trains traveling at 79 mph.

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