Published: November 04, 2009 10:50 am      

Clinton Council OKs railport’s design work

CLINTON — The development of the proposed Lincolnway Railport took a step forward Tuesday after the Clinton City Council unanimously approved design work for the foundation of the rail line.

Tuesday was the deadline to send the plans and specifications to the Iowa Department of Transportation, which will review them and then could let the first phase of the project to contractors in January.

To build the foundation for the rail line it will cost $2 million, according to Clinton Regional Development Corp. President Steve Ames. He said that amount would be paid for by $2 million from the federal stimulus package, which the council has not decided to accept or reject.

However, Tuesday’s action could be an indicator of the council’s future plans. Last week, the council voted to delay taking action on the $2 million until the Jan. 20 deadline when the project is let out.

Clinton officials are still in the process of lining up the funds needed for the $10.8 million project.

If the council accepts the $2 million, it is committing to having the entire railport finished by Jan. 1, 2013, according to Tamara Nicholson, the DOT Director of the Office of Rail Transportation.

“It's in the city’s best interest along with the regional development corporation to have that funding in place because once we let the project in January and they sign the contract with the contractor then they're committing $2 million of Recovery Act money and committing to completing the project by 2013,” Nicholson said.

If the project is not completed Clinton could request an extension or be forced to pay the $2 million back to the DOT, Nicholson added.

So far, the city has committed about $5 million, and the Clinton County Community Development Association approved $200,000. The county has not set a public hearing for its $4 million, which could be subject to a public vote if someone requests a reverse referendum.

The plans approved Tuesday include the design work for the bridge, culvert and switch materials, Ames said.