Update: this bill was sidelined by the legislative funnel and will not be moving forward this legislative session.
Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact
A bill has been introduced which allows the state of Iowa to join the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Compact.
The compact's purpose is:
- To promote development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in the midwest.
- To coordinate interaction among midwestern state elected officials and their designees on passenger rail issues.
- To promote development and implementation of long-range plans for high-speed rail passenger service in the midwest and among other regions of the United States.
- To work with the public and private sectors at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure coordination among the various entities having an interest in passenger rail service and to promote midwestern interests regarding passenger rail.
- To support efforts of transportation agencies involved in developing and implementing passenger rail service in the midwest.
Midwest states that can be included in the compact are Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Iowa is one of four states that is eligible to join the compact, but have not done so (Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, Iowa). Midwestern states are already planning for more passenger rail. It makes sense for Iowa to have a seat at the table, in planning for future rail. Rail provides a great alternative to cars and planes for travel in the midwest and beyond.
What you can do:
This bill passed the House and has moved to the Senate. Please ask your state senator to support having Iowa join the Middwest Passenger Rail Compact and vote YES on HF533. To find your state senator's email address, see www.legis.iowa.gov/legislators/senate or to Find your legislator and to locate your state representative, see www.legis.iowa.gov/
legislators/find Contact the Senate Transportation committee and ask that they support HF533. Their email addresses are dan.zumbach@legis.iowa.gov , scott.webster@legis.iowa.gov , thomas.townsend@legis.iowa.gov , liz.bennett@legis.iowa.gov , matt.blake@legis.iowa.gov , claire.celsi@legis.iowa.gov , rocky.dewitt@legis.iowa.gov , adrian.dickey@legis.iowa.gov , kerry.gruenhagen@legis.iowa.gov , mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov , carrie.koelker@legis.iowa.gov , mark.lofgren@legis.iowa.gov , mike.pike@legis.iowa.gov , ken.rozenboom@legis.iowa.gov , tom.shipley@legis.iowa.gov , kara.warme@legis.iowa.gov , cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov , mike.zimmer@legis.iowa.gov
- Midwestern states are already planning for more passenger rail. It makes sense for Iowa to have a seat at the table with the 8 other states already in the compact.
- Rail provides a great alternative to cars and planes for travel in the midwest and beyond.
- Rail provides a form of transportation to those who cannot drive or do not want to drive in large cities - that includes senior citizens, those with low vision, those uncomfortable driving in busier places where they may not know where they are going.
- Rail can bring tourists into the state and economic development.
- Rail will reduce the number of cars on our interstates. Adding more driving lanes to our interstates means increased expenses to taxpayers.