Iowa has a robust and thriving rail transportation system that is a critical component of the state's economy. The State Rail Plan (SRP) provides an overview of the state’s rail network, examines the ongoing development of infrastructure by railroads, and provides a pathway for the future of passenger and freight rail transportation in the state. The Iowa SRP was created in compliance with the federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA), as amended by the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA).
Vision / Plan
A first-rate passenger rail network will provide rail service connecting Iowans to major cities, regional destinations, other transportation connections and communities not typically served by commercial air or current passenger rail.
The vision will create a passenger rail network that connects Iowans to each other and the country, and makes Iowa a more attractive place to live, work, and visit.
The Iowa State Rail Plan seeks to integrate passenger rail into the broader multimodal transportation system and promote improved mobility, economic competitiveness, community revitalization, and reduced fuel use and emissions. It is a vision where travel by train is comfortable, efficient, and reliable. Implementation will use a conservative, incremental approach — increasing service over time, based on market demand, operational feasibility, and funding.
Iowa currently has the benefit of two national long-distance passenger rail lines that run from Chicago to the West Coast crossing the southern part of the state.
The immediate goal in the first phase of an expanded passenger rail system is to achieve passenger rail service from Iowa City (via the Quad Cities) to Chicago and Dubuque to Chicago, with later phases exploring further expansion.