Executive director Howard Learner (WHO-TV / March 11, 2009)
As the state capitol, the city of Des Moines offers the chance to rub shoulders with influential state lawmakers. And as the home of the first in the nation presidential caucuses, the state of Iowa offers the chance to share ideas with national leaders. There is a new place downtown trying to green the world.
"I was probably not quite a long haired hippie," Howard Learner jokes. "I had more hair than I have now as my kids point out."
Learner is the executive director of the Enivronmental Law and Policy Center. The group houses several green and earth-friendly organizations. Learner's most pressing project is light rail expansion through Des Moines. He wants to see a Des Moines to Iowa City to Chicago regional line.
"For many years there was jobs and economic growth versus the environment. And what people are realizing today is we can have them together," Learner said.
He believes if the state comes up with $3 million, it could possibly get $125 million in federal stimulus money to expand train service. He realizes a lot of Iowans have a bad impression of trains, believing they're too often running late. He says expanded rail service will help make sure trains are running on time.
"If you have a line going from Des Moines to Iowa City to Chicago that's what it's doing. It's not getting delayed because of weather conditions in the Rockies. It knows its mission. It's point to point," Learner said.
His point to Iowans is the light rail, at 79 miles per hour, is faster than driving and better for the economy. Learner says the Federal Railroad Administration will work with Congress in the next few months to put together its plans for how to best use the federal stimulus money. He believes Iowa leaders would likely have to approve the state's share of the expansion funding before the end of the legislative session, which is scheduled to end in early April.
"I was probably not quite a long haired hippie," Howard Learner jokes. "I had more hair than I have now as my kids point out."
Learner is the executive director of the Enivronmental Law and Policy Center. The group houses several green and earth-friendly organizations. Learner's most pressing project is light rail expansion through Des Moines. He wants to see a Des Moines to Iowa City to Chicago regional line.
"For many years there was jobs and economic growth versus the environment. And what people are realizing today is we can have them together," Learner said.
He believes if the state comes up with $3 million, it could possibly get $125 million in federal stimulus money to expand train service. He realizes a lot of Iowans have a bad impression of trains, believing they're too often running late. He says expanded rail service will help make sure trains are running on time.
"If you have a line going from Des Moines to Iowa City to Chicago that's what it's doing. It's not getting delayed because of weather conditions in the Rockies. It knows its mission. It's point to point," Learner said.
His point to Iowans is the light rail, at 79 miles per hour, is faster than driving and better for the economy. Learner says the Federal Railroad Administration will work with Congress in the next few months to put together its plans for how to best use the federal stimulus money. He believes Iowa leaders would likely have to approve the state's share of the expansion funding before the end of the legislative session, which is scheduled to end in early April.
