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[KevinKorell]

From Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers (IARP), newsletter for March 2006:

For information on IARP's upcoming meeting, click here.

Legislation is being considered for Iowa to join 6 other states in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission. The goals of this Commission are to promote current and long range plans for Midwest intercity passenger rail service, coordinate interaction among Midwestern state officials and between the public and private sector at all levels, and to support current state efforts being conducted through state departments of transportation.

There are two interesting initiatives taking place within Iowa to start or restart light rail service. Information on the Cedar Rapids Light Rail Initiative can be found on the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce website. A planning consultant has been hired to conduct a feasibility study of this project. A report will be issued in April once the study is complete.

The other light rail activitity going on in the state is Omaha Streetcar. Right now just a grassroots organization, its goal is to return streetcars to Omaha by 2011. Streetcar service once existed in the city, but it ended in March of 1955.