NOTEBOOK: Amtrak expansion seen as another sign that passenger rail will reach D.M. ⦠eventually
BY MICHAEL CRUMB, Senior Staff Writer Friday, April 23, 2021 6:00 AM
Extending passenger railroad service from Chicago to Des Moines and then to Omaha would provide another transportation tool that could be used to attract and retain top talent for the region, said Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
But extending passenger rail across Iowa is a long-term goal and the immediate focus should remain on other transportation priorities, such as the new terminal project at the Des Moines International Airport, and improving the state’s roads and bridges, Byers said.
Amtrak expansion seen as another sign that passenger rail will reach D.M. ⦠eventually
BY MICHAEL CRUMB, Senior Staff Writer Tuesday, April 13, 2021 10:49 AM
Amtrak’s California Zephyr is seen in this image from the company’s website as it travels across the U.S. The train is one of two Amtrak trains that pass through Iowa. Amtrak recently announced plans to expand its service by 2035, including adding a route from the Quad Cities to Iowa City.
Extending passenger railroad service from Chicago to Des Moines and then to Omaha would provide another transportation tool that could be used to attract and retain top talent for the region, said Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership.
contributed photo
Plans for expansion of Amtrak service across Iowa appear to be idle.
Decades-long efforts to expand high-speed train service across Iowa appear to be sidetracked despite Amtrak’s plan to serve Iowa City.
Amtrak’s CEO recently released a long-range plan map that included a link from the Quad-Cities to Iowa City. That is part of a Chicago-to-Omaha route, envisioned since at least 1996, that also would pass through Des Moines.
Business leaders and planners seeking to help an economically diverse clientele travel have argued the service is a key piece of Iowa’s transportation mix.
Jay Byers, CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership and a leader in the Iowa Chamber Alliance, still sees it that way. He said the Partnership continues to support the work. He considers the listing of the Iowa City link a good sign.