POLL: Passenger Train from Iowa City to Chicago. Yay or Nay?

Should Iowa help pay for a Amtrak passenger train line from Chicago to Iowa City? The Lt. Governor of Illinois certainly thinks so.

ROCK ISLAND – While welcoming national and international visitors to the Rock Island Train Festival today, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon encouraged Iowa Governor Terry Branstad to finalize his state’s rail plan and move forward with design and construction of a Chicago to Iowa City rail connection. 

Progress on the Chicago to Moline portion of the line is moving slowly, as federal funding will not be released to Illinois until Iowa decides whether it will provide matching state funds for the Moline to Iowa City extension, Simon said.   

“I want to see leaders in Illinois and Iowa working together to bring passenger rail from Chicago to Iowa City so we can create jobs, spur economic development and provide a fast, affordable connection between these vibrant communities,” Lt. Governor Simon said at the festival’s kick-off ceremonies.   

After the matter was not settled during budget negotiations in Des Moines earlier this year, legislators turned the matter over to Governor Branstad to decide whether the state should put up the funding that would allow federal dollars to flow into the project. The state has already budgeted $6.5 million for the project, but state legislators decided to let the Governor choose if he would fully fund Iowa's $20 million portion that would keep the project going. 

The total cost of the project is an estimated $310 million. In addition to the federal funds, which will cover 80 percent, Iowa is expected to provide $20 million, and Illinois will throw in $45 million

So what is your thoughts on the matter? Would passenger rail be worth the cost and be a boon to Iowa City? Or would the money be better spent elsewhere? Vote in our poll below and let us know the reason for your vote in our comments.