Tea party stand
CJtrainguy I will go on record to say that it really doesn't have anything to do with finances. The money could be found. The Gov doesn't want to support passenger rail for ideological reasons. I've met him several times and he generally seemed a reasonable man, but that was during the first round at Terrace Hill. If the issue was truly to support economic growth in Iowa, then getting passenger rail going should be a no brainer.
I will go on record to say that it really doesn't have anything to do with finances. The money could be found. The Gov doesn't want to support passenger rail for ideological reasons. I've met him several times and he generally seemed a reasonable man, but that was during the first round at Terrace Hill.
If the issue was truly to support economic growth in Iowa, then getting passenger rail going should be a no brainer.
Victrola1 If Iowa's budget balance sheet is in better shape than 2010, there maybe enough "walkin' around money" to fund the start up. The initial outlay is a greater cost than the operating subsidy.
If Iowa's budget balance sheet is in better shape than 2010, there maybe enough "walkin' around money" to fund the start up. The initial outlay is a greater cost than the operating subsidy.
Iowa is in better fiscal shape than Illinois. When it comes to such projects, Iowa is seldom quick to commit. If the Iowa D. O. T. study is not all roses, this project may well go nowhere in the near future.
"High speed" on this project will not include crawling through the Quad-Cities. If extended beyond Iowa City, the duck walk through Des Moines to reach Omaha is another delay. A schedule longer than driving or current express bus service will provide fodder for critics.
Murphy Siding I would guess that Iowa didn't get a grant, but rather an earmark- promised funds, but no funds were allocated. If that's the case, it's probably DOA.
I would guess that Iowa didn't get a grant, but rather an earmark- promised funds, but no funds were allocated. If that's the case, it's probably DOA.
My understanding is that the funds were there, the good folks in Eastern Iowa want passenger service to Iowa City ASAP, and Governor-for-life Branstad vetoed because he won't commit the state to an annual subsidy, even though the business community in Eastern Iowa (who should be his party buddies) believe passenger service would bring economic benefit to the community greater than the subsidy. This decision from Branstad came about the time other Repub governors took dramatic stands against passenger rail (presumably because the incumbent in the White House was in favor of passenger rail). However, Branstad won't be in office forever…
I predict passenger service will come to Iowa City, Des Moines and eventually Omaha along the old Rock Island route (now IAIS).
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
Governor Terry Branstad says he’s not ready to reject a $53 million federal grant to extend passenger rail service from Davenport to Iowa City. The state got the grant in October of 2010, when Democrat Chet Culver was governor and Culver championed the project, however current Republican Governor Terry Branstad has never been a cheerleader for it..........
Never say never?
The Iowa Interstate Railroad remains willing to host new passenger rail service across Iowa if the state and Amtrak can reach an agreement to develop and fund it, a top executive of the Cedar Rapids-based railroad said today.
“The railroad is more than willing to work with Amtrak, the states, or anybody else that’s involved in passenger service,” said Henry Posner III, chairman of the Iowa Interstate’s board and of its parent company Railroad Development Corp. “Our main business is freight, but one of the benefits of being a railroad is you can do more than one thing at once.”
http://thegazette.com/2012/11/18/iowa-interstate-willing-to-host-passenger-trains-its-chairman-says/
Preparations to bring passenger trains back to the Quad Cities are still on schedule, and there remains no immediate prospect to extend service across Iowa. But planners know which route to take if Iowa’s prospects improve.
“This helps us show that it’s feasible all the way across the state on that route,” said Tammy Nicholson, director of the Iowa Department of Transportation’s office of rail transportation.
A feasibility study nearing completion is likely to settle on the Iowa Interstate route through Iowa City and Des Moines to Council Bluffs and Omaha. That’s the same line chosen three years ago to extend Chicago-Moline service to Iowa City – a plan stalled by opposition from Gov. Terry Branstad and state House Republicans..........
http://thegazette.com/2012/11/01/iowa-city-favored-for-proposed-new-amtrak-route/
Talk, talk and more talk.
Murphy Siding Erik C. Lindgren: . If Iowa had its choice it likely would be like South Dakota.. no Amtrak period. Hey now! We didn't make that decision. Uncle Sam made it for us. We have exactly as many Amtrak route miles as Hawaii.
Erik C. Lindgren: . If Iowa had its choice it likely would be like South Dakota.. no Amtrak period.
. If Iowa had its choice it likely would be like South Dakota.. no Amtrak period.
and Alaska. ARR isn't part of Amtrak as far as I know.
Not too likely. There wasn't any passenger service on C&NW west of Clinton in 1971 and the MILW main was like the Erie, it missed just about everything between Chicago and Omaha. MILW trains were dependent on bus connections to get to Iowa's population centers.
Dakguy201 Iowa already enjoys Amtrak service by hosting the California Zephyr. Unfortunately, the CB&Q's Chicago/Denver route managed to miss every significant population center within the State of Iowa. Iowa is a very closely divided politically, and a pet project of a former Governor is going to be very closely examined by his successor.
Iowa already enjoys Amtrak service by hosting the California Zephyr. Unfortunately, the CB&Q's Chicago/Denver route managed to miss every significant population center within the State of Iowa. Iowa is a very closely divided politically, and a pet project of a former Governor is going to be very closely examined by his successor.
Good point. I often wonder if the MILW or even CNW mainlines at the time had been in better shape back in 1971 if things might be a little different today.
SO-Sorry Murphy Siding... I was only meaning that by a choice Iowa would just assume be like South Dakota and Hawaii.. even thought it is not South Dakota's fault!
http://erikclindgren.com
Erik C. Lindgren . If Iowa had its choice it likely would be like South Dakota.. no Amtrak period.
I don't know what amazes me more, the fact Branstad is back in office again or the fact he did not renew the federal passenger group.
Holy cow, I was kid in elementary school when he was in office last time. How did that happen!
One thing Iowan's like is "NO-CHANGE". Being born there and living 30 years of my 35 there I can tell you these folks do not like change. I guess I am a native of Iowa dating to my ancestors from Sweden homesteading in Forest City. Right now change would be a passenger train that runs in Iowa other than the convenient location of the old ATSF and CB&Q mainlines. If Iowa had its choice it likely would be like South Dakota.. no Amtrak period. Come on who needs trains!?, when we all have SUVs!
What is really a hoot is highway 63 from Waterloo to the Minnesota border for Pete's sake... !! It has taken them what 30 years to finish this BADLY needed 4 lane improvement.. AND IT IS STILL NOT DONE! Honestly how long does it take to make a 4 lane highway in a field? In Denver in the past year they have managed to finish the I-25/Alameda/Santa Fe intersection with nearly a half a million vehicles passing every day! Yes I know, $$$$$$$.. excuses, excuses.. it has been over 30 YEARS!
I am not surprised.
Sorry guys, I spend a great deal of time on this road and it is nothing short of a dangerous deal.. all the local law enforcement is doing is siting at the end of the 4 lane 65 speed limit zones collecting speeding fine revenue for the little bergs. Never mind the graded and poorly lit intersections and death rate. A train from Rochester, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, or a train from Clinton to Omaha.. HA! Not in my lifetime..
Unfortunate, indeed. Almost embarrassed to admit that I'm an Iowa native.
Somehow, somewhere down the road this will become reality but this is a big (and unnecessary) step backward.
Some local elected officials are criticizing Gov. Terry Branstad's decision not to renew Iowa's membership to a federal passenger rail advocacy group for next year despite the commitment by local entities to pay the membership fee.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20110819/NEWS09/110819010/Branstad-turns-down-cities-rail-funding-
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