Posted on 08/08/2010 5:31:42 AM PDT by KevinDavis
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Gov. Chet Culver has announced the Iowa and Illinois Departments of Transportation have submitted a joint application for funding to help pay for new and enhanced high speed passenger rail between Chicago and Iowa City.
The application is to the Federal Railroad Administration's High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program. The project would incorporate sustainable development principles in the construction and operation of the line. That could include running the train using biofuels, using recycled materials in construction, using locally grown foods and environmentally friendly packaging in food service, and encouraging pedestrian-friendly development around rail stations.
Culver says high-speed rail promises to create an economic development engine for decades.
Applications were due Friday. Funding announcements are expected to be made on Sept. 30. The total proposed cost of the Iowa City-to-Chicago line, which would stop in the Quad Cities, is $310 million.
Just do what michigan does, let some roads return to dirt and strip the money out of highway funds. Eventually the roads will be so bad that people will be forced to move to the city and increase train ridership.
Iowa City to Chicago??
These people are blooming idiots.
How many people travel from Iowa City to Chicago every day? What a scam...
The federal government has money? Who knew?
Is that where the University of Iowa???
1. What lies along the new route to support this new, enhanced high speed passenger service? Unless there are several thousand rider per day this rail line will have to subsidized on an annual basis. The unique conditions of New England don't exist in the Midwest.
2. Since when has any project at the municipal, state, or federal level come in on time, on budget, with the advertised service levels? See the big dig in Boston.
3. There ain't no such thing as free money. That money came from our wallets and those two governors know it and lied about it. If it cannot be either funded privately or at the state level it doesn't have to be built. I would much prefer to see the 310 million dollars spent on maintenance and repair efforts in the same area. But then, that doesn't get politicians reelected, does it?
LOL hell why not, federal funds are building dorms at our local community college so the kiddies won’t have to commute a grueling half hour.
But running through the QC area? What's that all about? Dubuque, man, Dubuque! Remember the rules!
(In Iowa, Dubuque gets the first shot at all state and federal monies. And usually the second shot, too.)
Use the "northern route" so that felons from Chicago, Rockford and Freeport can enjoy the hospitality of Iowa's "green" and "sustainable" farm-league version of Madistan without the ignominy of taking the Trailways bus. It's what Jesus would do (hat tip to Lindsey Graham), and it's for the children.
Mr. niteowl77.
On one hand, I’m not at all in favor of the federal government doing this sort of thing. On the other, given the debasement of our currency and the inevitable inflation in commodities we won’t have an airline industry in another 20 years and will need to make alternate arrangements for long distance transportation within the US.
Maybe it’s from Chicago to Iowa? We left Chicago for Texas by car. If there was a high speed rail to get out quicker that would have better.
Yes it is called the Automobile... It is a 3 hour drive...
How many people travel from Iowa City to Chicago every day? What a scam...
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Actually I think its a pretty heavily traveled route. Megabus has added service on the Iowa City-Chicago trip, and Trailways has daily service for less than $50 full fare.
I just can’t see this new option as being very economical.
Which a train will have to compete with. Or not, with Uncle Sugar footing the bill...
Maybe the writer thinks its 1882 A.D!
There, fixed it.
Is that where the University of Iowa???
Yes it is.
There are over 30K students there who will be able to take advantage of Amtrak's Student Discounts.
So I should pay for college students who are lazy to drive 3 hours buy car...
Of course Comrade ! It's your duty as a forward thinking citizen to subsidize any and all forms of goobermint transit. Never mind that they lose money ! Never mind that their union employees are exhorbitantly paid. Never mind that so-called engineering companies rake in millions for "studies" that always say "If you build it they will come." Never mind that it's the poor who take the brunt of this theft through sales taxes.
Get your mind right, Comrade !
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