Meeting on potential rail abandonment to be held March 7

Iowa Department of Transportation

AMES, Iowa – Feb. 28, 2011 – An informal meeting to discuss the potential abandonment of the Iowa River Railroad line from Ackley to Marshalltown (with possible future revision from Steamboat Rock to Marshalltown) will be held March 7 at the Eldora City Hall, 1442 Washington St. The public is invited to come any time between 1 and 3 p.m.

The Iowa River Railroad has announced the rail line from Ackley to Marshalltown (with possible future revision from Steamboat Rock to Marshalltown) has been placed in Category 1 status with the Surface Transportation Board. That means the rail line is a candidate for abandonment within the next three years.

Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) staff will be at the meeting to discuss the abandonment process and listen to public comment regarding this potential abandonment.

For additional information regarding abandonments, the Surface Transportation Board has resources available online at the following website: http://www.stb.dot.gov/stb/public/resources_abandonment.html

For questions or comments relative to this potential abandonment or to request further information, contact Mary Jo Key, Iowa DOT’s Office of Rail Transportation, at 515-239-1108 Mondays through Thursdays, or by E-mail at mary.jo.key@dot.iowa.gov