Iowa gets $97 million for transportation efforts

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) says Iowa is getting $97 million in federal funding for railroads and manufacturers to replace aging infrastructure, build new bridges and support Iowa’s locomotive industry .

The money is allocated by the US Department of Transportation and comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“Iowa’s rail system is vital to our state’s local economy. This federal investment will improve rail safety and productivity while opening greater opportunities for economic growth,” said Senator Grassley. “The bipartisan infrastructure bill continues to support important local improvements, and I’m glad to see Iowans’ hard-earned tax dollars going back into communities across our state.”

Federal awards will support several efforts:

Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway will receive $19,040,000 for replacement of railroad ties along 56 miles of main line from Cedar Rapids to Hills, Iowa.
Iowa Interstate Railroad, LLC will receive $29,883,200 for the design and construction of the Colfax and De Soto bridges in Iowa and the Rock River and Atkinson bridges in Illinois. The new Colfax and De Soto bridges will support the rail transport of large wind energy components.
East Erie Commercial Railroad will receive $48,412,512 for the remanufacturing of locomotives. The remanufactured diesel locomotives are manufactured by sourcing components from plants in Cedar Rapids and then reassembled in plants in Albia, employing nearly 100 Iowans.