Converting a portion of the CRANDIC rail to provide commuters a new option

IOWA CITY, Iowa (KGAN) — Johnson County leaders want to offer a new commuting option by repurposing an old rail line cutting through Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty.

“It's been around for 100 years, and it's been under-utilized for the last 70 of those years,” Cady Gerlach, executive director of Better Together 2030, said.

The rail line would cut through North Liberty, Coralville and right into downtown Iowa City where dense foot traffic and limited parking are a challenge for some travelers.

“Hopefully having a train will make it accessible for somebody who might live in Iowa City to work a job in Coralville or vice versa,” Mackenzie DeRoo, Senior Director of Advocacy for Greater Iowa City said.

Leaders are working with Pop-Up Metro to formulate a three-year trial run of the transit system.

The company repurposes London Underground trains for short commutes. The trains retain a nostalgic feel while offering modern amenities such as charging ports and wireless internet, the company said.

Like the recent expansion of bussing in Iowa City, leaders are aiming to make the service free of charge.

However, this decision ultimately lies with elected officials and community leaders who will oversee the train.

Costs for the multi-year trial run could initially be covered by federal dollars earmarked for cleaner transportation, because the trains are battery powered.

In addition to the Department of Transportation, there may be opportunities for funding from the Department of Energy or other places.

There is no timeframe for this to roll out yet. Leaders are traveling to Pennsylvania next month to see how it all works.