Legislative Correspondence to Pam Jochum_State Transit AssistanceOffice of the Mayor
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 520014864
www.cityofdubuque.org
VIA E -mail &
1St Class Mail
Pam.Jochum @legis.state.ia.us
The Honorable Pam Jochum
Senate Chamber
Iowa Capitol Building
Des Moines, IA 50319
Dear Senator Jochum:
Service People
Integrity
February 22, 2011
THE CITY OF
DUB v TE
On behalf of the citizens of Dubuque and my colleagues on the City Council, I
respectfully request that you maintain the $300,000 State Transit Assistance (STA)
Rebuild Iowa infrastructure funds for the Dubuque Depot and Platform Feasibility Study,
Environmental Study and Preliminary Study. This project has a signed contract from
Iowa Department of Transportation and is already incurring costs for Phase I.
While some use the reintroduction of passenger rail to Dubuque, Iowa (passenger rail
from Chicago to Dubuque was active until 1984) as a catchy political slogan by
proclaiming it is the "train to nowhere," it is in fact the "train to economic prosperity" as it
creates the connectivity that allows expanded access to visitors and business travelers
in and out of the region. A $30 million impact in annual visitor expenditures to the City
of Dubuque and State of Iowa is a significant boost to the local and state economy and
tax base.
This project is on schedule and the Phase I Feasibility and Environmental Study is
scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2011. Following the Phase I study, the
Phase II Preliminary design study is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Getting the study done in a timely fashion will help to meet the Illinois Department of
Transportation's timeline for passenger rail from Chicago to Dubuque return scheduled
for 2013 - 2014. As of now, the Illinois Department of Transportation is in the process of
making improvements to this corridor with a $60 million State of Illinois appropriation.
Dubuque is the initial destination for this project and it is very crucial to get the Dubuque
Depot and Platform ready for construction. This project will not only help to act as a
Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
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The Honorable Pam Jochum
February 22, 2011
Page 2
gateway for passenger rail from Illinois to Iowa, but it will also allow expanded service to
Waterloo.
The City of Dubuque is financially dedicated to this project and has committed $3 million
in their Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for the project construction. Getting the
project ready for construction will help to leverage future federal dollars for this project.
The project is compatible with the long range sustainability plans for the City of
Dubuque. This project will be a prime example for Smart Planning as it follows the
eleven principles of smart planning.
This project is designated to accommodate public transit, private buses, public parking,
and also a platform /station for passenger rail service. The project will help the TIGER I
funded Historic Millwork District become a full - fledged Transit Oriented Development
(TOD). This project will enhance economic development and tourism in the area, and
contribute to the statewide vision of a multi -model transportation system that is safe,
accessible and efficient. In particular, this project will be an essential element of the
proposed new passenger rail service from Chicago to Dubuque.
Passenger rail service to Iowa will provide higher education facilities like Loras College,
Clarke University and the University of Dubuque, located in Dubuque, and the
University of Wisconsin in Platteville, with access to other modes of transportation.
Improvement of trackage will also benefit the freight carriers in Iowa, providing
alternative routes to Chicago markets.
For all these reasons, Senator, we appreciate your support for this important priority for
Dubuque and Iowa, and we welcome you sharing this information with your colleagues
in the Iowa Assembly.
We are grateful to you and the Dubuque delegation for your support of the City of
Dubuque and its citizens.
RDB:tg
cc: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Sincerely yours,
/L/
RZ. Buol
Mayor
ME