Culver pushes Iowa's future in passenger rail

Gov. Chet Culver rolled into Osceola on a train Sept. 23 with some good news for Clarke County - money is available for infrastructure improvements.

Culver stopped in Osceola during his tour in southern Iowa to promote his plans for increasing passenger train lines and upgrading existing rails.

Along with improving train traffic, Culver plans to enhance bridges and roads.

At the event, Culver announced to a small crowd that Clarke County will receive over $6 million for bridge and road improvements and nearly $1 million in disaster funds.

The money for road improvements comes from I-JOBS funds and will be used to replace four bridges over Squaw Creek on Highway 152. The first part of the project will be completed in 2010.

Culver said $275,000 is also available for “shovel-ready” projects for towns in Clarke County.

Making trains reliable

The governor’s main goal of the day was to promote the future of Iowa’s rail system.

Culver’s first concern about southern Iowa’s existing train is that it isn’t on time. He said by making some investments, the train will become more reliable and run more efficiently.

“One reason people don’t ride [the train] is because they need it to be more reliable,” he said. “This will enhance and improve the trains, which will translate into higher ridership. The more you invest in the rail, the faster it can go.”

To bring reliability, Culver plans to install four crossover tracks, including one in Osceola. This addition will allow passenger trains to pass stopped freight trains at 45 miles per hour.

Currently, passengers experience up to 20-minute delays because the train has to stop for freight trains.

On a daily basis, 40 freight trains and two Amtrak trains travel on southern Iowa’s rail.

Money would also be spent on leveling the ground beneath the tracks to make the ride more smoother and enjoyable for riders.

The governor said this would be the first time the state is investing millions of dollars in the train’s rails, and will also partner with Burlington Northern Rail Road for the project.

New rail

Culver has allocated $3 million from I-JOBS funds to improve and expand the state’s train rails. Iowa will also compete for federal stimulus money for the project.

Short corridor routes would be added to provide high-speed passenger service from Iowa City to Chicago. Culver said a train in Des Moines and more corridor routes could be added, depending on the success of the Iowa City/Chicago corridor.

Culver said he wasn’t sure how many more passengers would be added with the new corridor, but expects college students in Iowa City would take advantage of the opportunity for cheap travel.

Idea sees opposition

Before the event, Osceola’s Mayor Fred Diehl said he thought adding corridors could possible harm southern Iowa’s train traffic.

“If they develop a major terminal in Des Moines and Iowa City, that would cut down on traffic through here and Mt. Pleasant,” he said. “We get a lot of ridership out of Des Moines.”

An estimated 20,000 passengers a year travel through Osceola’s depot. Diehl said he thinks the tracks which were replaced 30 years ago are better than any place in Iowa.

During the train ride to Albia, Diehl and other city officials and representatives spoke with the governor about their concerns about adding more tracks.

“[The governor] assured us that he’s not trying to eliminate Osceola’s track, but he’s interested in making more rail traffic available,” Diehl said.

Diehl said he is still concerned about what a new passenger train would mean for southern Iowa, but the decision wouldn’t affect Osceola for a long time.

“This is a major project,” he said. “It’s going to take some time to complete.”

In an Osceola Sentinel-Tribune interview, Culver said the project would offer alternatives to people who would normally fly or drive and would benefit southern Iowa.

“Adding a passenger train from Iowa City won’t harm Osceola’s Amtrak ridership, but increase it,” Culver said. “I think it will give people more affordable options.”

A roundtrip ticket would cost $40.

Southern Iowa depots could also see an upgrade. Culver said he also wants to allocate money for depot renovations to make them more “modern.”

Diehl said Culver was impressed with Osceola’s current depot renovation project which has totaled $600,000 for the outside improvements.

ADDING JOBS

Besides adding potential passengers, Culver said the project would also focus on his main goal as governor.

“My primary focus as governor is to create jobs,” he said. “This is an opportunity to create good paying jobs when people are depending on these jobs,” he said.

The new corridor could be done within three years and Culver said he’s pushing hard on getting things done for the betterment of the state.

“You’re lucky in southern Iowa to have a train,” he said. “That’s not the case for other parts of Iowa... It’s really about Iowa’s future.”