Support Passenger Rail in Central Iowa

Posted: Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Drive Time Des Moines, Downtown Community Alliance, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership are hosting two events on Monday, Oct. 24 to promote bringing Passenger Rail to the Greater Des Moines region. 

“Passenger Rail: Investing in Iowa’s Future” is an information session for business and government leaders hosted by Iowa City mayor, Matt Hayek with featured speakers Michigan Republican State Representative Wayne Schmidt and Mayor Chris Koos of Normal, Illinois.  It will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Renaissance Savery Hotel Ballroom in downtown Des Moines.  A continental breakfast will be provided.  To register, please go to: www.desmoinesmetro.com/events.

“Rally for Rails” will be held at Drake University’s Olmstead Center at noon and is cosponsored by the Drake University Student Senate.  The rally will include live music from The River Monks from noon – 12:45 p.m. Representative Schmidt and Mayor Koos will also speak from 12:45 – 1:30 p.m. The event free and open to the public. 

Both events will feature Michigan Republican State Representative Wayne Schmidt and Mayor Chris Koos of Normal, Illinois.  Rep. Schmidt serves on the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission and Michigan recently invested $200 million in enhancing passenger rail service between Detroit and Chicago.  Mayor Koos is currently overseeing a $300 million investment in Normal to expand passenger rail service which is serving as a catalyst for economic development.  The panelists will speak about their experiences with bringing passenger rail to their locales and why passenger rail is an important component of economic development strategies.

For more information, contact the Greater Des Moines Partnership at (515) 286-4950.