IARP July Update
Accessibility Upgrades Complete at Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant Stations
In May, Amtrak completed $20 million in accessibility upgrades to Ottumwa and Mount Pleasant stations, bringing both stations into ADA compliance. Upgrades included new platforms, lighting, sloped walkways, and detectable warning systems at both stations, plus refurbished canopies on Ottumwa’s platforms.
3 Iowa stations are now ADA-compliant, as Burlington had previously completed ADA upgrades. The other 3 (Creston, Fort Madison, Osceola), are expected to become compliant within the next year.
Illinois Seeking Another Extension for Chicago-Moline FRA Grant
In June, Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, along with Representative Eric Sorensen, sent a letter to DOT Secretary Sean Dufy and FRA head David Fink asking for an extension of an FRA grant for the Quad Cities Amtrak project. In their letter, it was mentioned that the project is finally ready to proceed, and that the Iowa Interstate Railroad has agreed to the scope of the project. The last piece of the puzzle seems to be this grant, which expires on July 31st.
The grant was originally for $177 million, but documents from Illinois DOT show that much of the funds have been spent already. Still, extending the grant would keep the project fully funded, and would allow it to proceed without further delay.
Iowa DOT Exploring Amtrak Thruway Service to Des Moines
In June, Iowa DOT held its Passenger Rail Advisory Committee (PRAC) meeting, which IARP attended. There, IDOT noted that they are exploring bringing Amtrak Thruway service to Iowa. The service would use an existing Jefferson Lines bus between Des Moines and Indianapolis, which is currently a Thruway service west of Galesburg. Iowa stops would include Des Moines, Marshalltown, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Davenport.
If enacted, this option would allow people to book a transfer between the Jefferson Lines bus and Amtrak on one ticket through Amtrak. The bus route intersects with 8 Amtrak routes, connecting at Galesburg, Bloomington-Normal, Champaign and Indianapolis.
