Price rises for Iowa City-Chicago rail service
It would cost Iowa more money than initially projected for passenger rail service between Iowa City and Chicago.
The Iowa City Press-Citizen says the federal government allocated $210 million in 2010 but required a local match. Illinois is moving forward with its portion of the project, but not Iowa.
Iowa would have been obligated to contribute $21.8 million in initial support, but that’s grown to $72 million because of inflation, new infrastructure regulations and more improvements to accommodate freight growth.
A memo by assistant to the city manager Geoff Fruin says the project had required just 20 percent state support to advance, but now it would require 58 percent support.
Iowa Sen. Matt McCoy says he’s pessimistic about the Iowa City-Chicago line’s funding chances in the Capitol next year.