Iowa, Nevada receive federal grants to develop statewide rail plans

The Federal Railroad Administration has made high-speed rail grants available for Iowa and Nevada to develop statewide rail plans as part of a national effort to develop an integrated passenger rail network. The Iowa Department of Transportation received $400,000 to develop a freight and passenger rail transportation model, which will expand on Iowa's existing statewide travel demand model used in rail planning activities and used to update its 2009 State Rail Plan. The passenger rail component of the model will allow IADOT to forecast passenger rail ridership along potential corridors. Iowa will contribute $100,000 towards this project. The Nevada Department of Transportation received $640,000 to fund the completion of the Nevada State Rail Plan. The plan will create a state policy on freight and passenger rail transportation to enhance rail service and serve as the basis for future federal and state rail investments. Nevada is contributing $345,699.