Access Rail Rail Revolving Loan and Grant Program (RRLGP) Access Rail is an initiative to expand the ability of the Rail Revolving Loan and Grant program to assist businesses in accessing and growing Iowa's rail transportation system. The issue in brief Freight transportation is rapidly growing and the rail system is a critical component of the state's overall transportation system. Improvements and expansion of the rail system are vital to accommodate the increased freight being shipped by rail. For businesses, access to rail transportation can lower costs and open more distant markets, which add to the bottom line and help businesses be more profitable and grow. For communities, access to a rail connection can spur job growth and development. For railroads, new customers lead to higher revenues and the capability to invest in improvements to their rail infrastructure.  For Iowa, the availability of a strong rail system adds to the state's future economic potential.   The need in brief Demand for assistance from the RRLGP, which provides financial assistance to build or upgrade rail facilities, has far outstripped available funds. In the first three rounds of funding, 49 projects requested over $29 million in assistance competing for a little over $7 million in grants and loans.  The Iowa legislature last year appropriated $2 million to the RRLGP fund, which has been awarded to assist ten rail development projects.  The RRLGP may award up to fifty percent of the available funds in grants with the remaining funds offered as loan assistance. Though loan repayments are returned to the fund, grant awards will rapidly shrink the funds available for future years. The solution Support an investment by the Iowa General Assembly of $2 million per year for another four years. Reassess the program and rail investment needs after 2012. For more complete information on the Access Rail initiative: Access Rail Brochure Need for RRLGP Funding RRLGP Requests and Awards - FY 2006 through FY 2008 Frequently Asked Questions about the need for RRLGP funding Rail Funding History Impact on future funding of proposed additional appropriation   Presentation to Joint Transportation, Infrastructure, and Capital Appropriations Subcommittee of the General Assembly, Jan. 23, 2007