Illinois, Iowa DOTs to release Chicago-to-Iowa City environmental report

On Sept. 29, the Illinois and Iowa departments of transportation (DOT) will hold a public information meeting to present an environmental report that evaluates proposed routes  and potential impacts for new intercity passenger-rail service between Chicago, the Quad Cities and Iowa City.

The report — scheduled to be released tomorrow — was developed by the Iowa and Illinois DOTs, in conjunction with the Federal Railroad Administration, as part of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. Once complete, the environmental assessment will help the state DOTs qualify for federal grants through the FRA and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.