Amtrak has completed $20 million in upgrades to Mount Pleasant and Ottumwa stations. These upgrades include new concrete platforms, accessibility upgrades, and renewed canopies on the Ottumwa platforms.
The $20 million in upgrades to enhance the passenger experience include a level surface for wheeled mobility device, stroller and rolling luggage users.
Out and about at the Iowa City Farmers Market this morning.
Iowa DOT has released their 2027-2031 Transportation Inprovement Program.
FY27 will see $1.07 billion in funding for the Highway Improvement Program. Passenger rail will get $0.
DART’s redesigned bus network debuts this Sunday. With 11 routes, DART will unveil a smaller, but more frequent network.
Very good ridership for Amtrak in April, with year over year growth above 10%.
Looks like Jefferson Lines will be starting a daily bus service between Chicago and Clear Lake on June 30th. Intermediate stops will be in Dubuque and Waterloo. This service will finally connect Dubuque to the rest of Iowa's intercity bus network.
Check out Jefferson Lines for more details.
iowadot.gov
Changes to the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority (DART) will start on June 14. The bus system currently has 27 routes that are being consolidated into 10 main ones.
The bipartisan US House transport bill—which passed through committee—would:
—Eliminate all guaranteed funding for new transit projects, forcing transit to fight for appropriations
—Reduce *potential* transit funds by 15% & *potential* rail funds by 44%
—Increase highway’s share of federal funds
Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
The 2nd in a series that takes a look at the draft of the House T&I Committee's "BUILD America 250 Act" and what it spells out for the post-IIJA future of passenger rail - this time looking at "Amtrak reform" and "Passenger Rail Policy"
Read here: https://twp.ai/E5AyKP
The ribbon-cutting "reopening" celebration for the updated Mt. Pleasant (IA) station took place last week.
Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers
As currently drafted, BUILD America 250 would likely reinforce the United States’ car dependence, depriving Americans of affordable travel options and degrad…
