Passenger Rail Service Update
In early 2006, the Envision 2010 Committee announced that Passenger Rail Service was one of the top 10 projects for the Dubuque area. Since that time, a committee of volunteers has been meeting on a regular basis to discuss ways to make this project a reality. Shortly thereafter, the state of Illinois Department of Transportation announced that they were paying for a feasibility study of passenger train (Amtrak) service from Chicago to Dubuque (via Rockford). The study indicated preliminary infrastructure costs and projected ongoing operational subsidies to make this link to Chicago workable. The following is a summary of the financial aspects of the report:
Cost of Infrastructure repairs $32.3 million
Annual Operating Costs $4.4 million
Projected Annual Ridership 74,500 passengers
Revenue from Ridership $1.5 million
Annual Operating Deficit $2.9 million
There have been initial discussions between the staff at the Illinois DOT and the staff at the Iowa DOT to discuss how these capital and operating costs could be shared. With the assistance of ECIA, Iowa communities (Dubuque, Quad Cities, Iowa City/Coralville) have met in Ames with IDOT Director Nancy Richardson, to begin a dialogue on the process needed to get state funding for passenger rail service. The IDOT Director and staff appeared very supportive of our goals and have agreed to facilitate periodic meetings of this coalition.
The Envision Committee has taken on the task of getting public support behind an effort to encourage Legislators to allocate funding for Passenger Rail Service in the State budget. In the near future they are planning a community meeting to advocate this message to over 100 local organizations and service groups. The intent is to create an aggressive campaign to lobby Des Moines legislators that passenger rail is a long term need for the state of Iowa and that we have a window of opportunity to work with the state of Illinois to coordinate our efforts.
Restore Amtrak Service
Rail Needs Presentation
Chicago to Dubuque Feasibility Study
Passenger Rail meetings are held at ECIA, 7600 Commerce Park, every 2nd Monday of each month
at 5:30 p.m.
Do you support passenger rail?
Yes
No
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