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Iowa transportation commission approves grants
I’m pleased to read that they have this faith in the continuing viability of the Iowa Traction in Mason City. I railfanned it last summer - what an interesting operation!
ADM had gross revenue of $89.8 billion in 2014. Why do they need a loan from the taxpayers for the track improvements?
Interesting considering anti rail Governor Branstead
Exactly Philip. $165,600.00 to a multi BILLION $ corp how does that help anyone other than the share holders?
There seems to be a conception that Gov. Branstad is anti-rail. Nothing could be further from the truth. He is very pro-freight rail (as these grants show) and also for tourism. He is only against passenger rail, and indeed all forms of public transportation with the exception of airlines. Gov. Scott in Wisconsin is in the same mold…he has done a lot to promote, fund and encourage the development of freight railroads, and is really only anti-passenger trains. The good news from this is it at least preserves the tracks until such time as a more forward thinking administration comes to office.
To bad Iowa wasn’t more pro-active when almost half it’s route miles was ripped out in the 70’s and 80’s. Glaring examples were the ICG Cherokee to Sioux Falls, SD line and the high speed MILW CTC/double track Chicago to Council Bluffs line. There would be a lot of traffic and business on them today with competent operators.