Des Moines, IA
Stop on the proposed 17,000-mile maglev network. Next stop: Cedar Rapids, IA (103.5 mi).
About Des Moines
Des Moines is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named after the Des Moines River, likely derived from the French Rivière des Moines meaning 'River of the Monks'.
Source: Wikipedia summary (full article). Population and facts as published there.
Cost breakdown (proposal-scale estimates — see math)
| Item | Basis | Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal construction | Mid-size terminal (parametric range $1-2B) | $1.5B |
| Land acquisition | Regional factor 1× on $200M base | $200M |
| Track: Des Moines → Cedar Rapids | 103.5 mi × $500M/mi | $51.75B |
| Annual operations (share) | Staffing, power, maintenance | $30M/yr |
| Stop total (excl. annual ops) | $53.45B |
Best terminal location (proposed)
The downtown district around DART Central Station. DART Central Station already concentrates every Des Moines bus route downtown, and the East Village and Court Avenue blocks around it mix surface lots with redevelopment-ready parcels. The state-capital and insurance-industry job base gives the terminal a strong weekday catchment.
Before / after
Aerial mock-up (illustrative, not an engineering rendering). Left: the proposed site today. Right: with the maglev terminal.
- Newton, IA - Jasper County city east of Des Moines
- Grinnell, IA - Poweshiek County college town on the corridor
- Marshalltown, IA - Marshall County city on the US-30 corridor