IOWA CITY, Iowa — Bus riders in the Iowa City area are being asked for their opinion on a possible commuter rail line, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reports.
Riders traveling to and from the University of Iowa on three bus lines serving the campus will be asked to voluntarily take part in surveys conducted by Kansas City-based ETC Institute. Surveys will continue on weekdays through the remainder of the year.
The proposed rail line would run approximately 7.1 miles between Iowa City and North Liberty, using the existing right-of-way of Class III short line Cedar Rapids & Iowa City. A 2016 feasibility study projected the service, using diesel multiple-unit trainsets, would have initial capital costs of just over $40 million and annual operation and maintenance costs of $1.39 million.
