(The Associated Press circulated the following on March 27, 2009.)
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa will receive about $400,000 in federal funding to improve access for disabled people at the state’s Amtrak stations.
Gov. Chet Culver announced Friday that Iowa will get funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to make improvements at the state’s six Amtrak stations. The improvements will include new wheelchair lifts, new sidewalk and curb cuts from parking lots to the platforms and adding or relocating parking spots for the disabled closer to the platforms.
Amtrak has stations in Mount Pleasant, Osceola, Ottumwa, Burlington, Fort Madison and Creston. The state is served by two Amtrak trains: The California Zephyr and the Southwest Chief.
More than 64,000 passengers were served by Amtrak in Iowa in 2008.