Hunter
02/02/25
City and county leaders in Johnson County have put aside their plans to explore public transit options on the CRANDIC rail line between North Liberty and Iowa City.
The Gazette reports the decision came as CRANDIC said they wouldn’t allow the use of the rail line for passenger transit. The line hasn’t offered passenger rail service since 1953 but is active as a freight line.
The most recent proposal included a battery-powered train pilot program from Pennsylvania company Pop-Up Metro. It was estimated to cost $5.7 million to set up and an additional $3.7 million annually in operating costs.
CRANDIC told the Gazette that the company is open to additional discussions, but leasing the line is currently not a viable option. Johnson County Supervisor Rod Sullivan said the news that CRANDIC wouldn’t lease the tracks was shocking and came “out of nowhere.”
Work on establishing rail service locally has encompassed ten years, produced five studies, and came to over $480,000 in expenses, some of which has been funded by CRANDIC.