Cedar Rapids — Seeking Funding

Rail Transit Online, May 2004

The Cedar Rapids City Council on Mar. 31 approved filing an application for federal funding for the Cedar-Iowa RiverRail Corridor, a circular tourist trolley system that would connect four eastern Iowa communities.  The route would start in downtown Cedar Rapids, travel south through North Liberty, Coralville and Iowa City, then turn west into the Amana Colonies and finally head north back to Cedar Rapids.  A university campus, an auditorium and numerous tourist attractions are located along the route.  “In 1996 the study said there wasn't enough population to make this thing work,” Cedar Rapids Transportation Director Bill Hoekstra told KWWL-TV.  “But since then our population in this three county area has grown eleven percent.”  Much of the right-of-way and track is already in place, part of the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railroad (CRANDIC), cutting the estimated capital cost to about $15 million.  Cedar Rapids and other communities would contribute $3 million, with the remainder coming from Washington.  CRANDIC operated electric interurban passenger service from 1904 to 1953 but is now a thriving, all-diesel short line freight railway.  The modern incarnation would use restored antique streetcars or newly-built replicas traveling at 25 mph to 30 mph (40.2 kph to 48.3 kph).