Amtrak, DOT officials provide updates on passenger train expansion in Wisconsin

Work is about to begin on a study that will determine the future of passenger train service in West Central Wisconsin. That was the word from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Jennifer Murray at a meeting in Eau Claire Tuesday, January 30th.

“This summer, Wisconsin DOT will begin step one for the Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, Twin Cities corridor,” Murray said. “With that, we will begin looking at a scope of work for the service development plan and we’re going to analyze that route from Chicago to the Twin Cities through Madison and Eau Claire.”

Meanwhile, passenger traffic on existing trains is slowly getting back to pre-pandemic levels, according to Amtrak’s Derrick James. The only passenger train in Wisconsin currently is Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which runs from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, passing through the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Tomah and La Crosse. Wisconsin also operates The Hiawatha Service between Milwaukee and Chicago, in cooperation with Illinois.

James told the group he expects the number of Amtrak passengers this year to reach or exceed the peak seen in 2019. James also said Amtrak remains committed to working with private train operators, too. One of the proposals being examined is a short-line service between Eau Claire and St. Paul, using the existing Union Pacific tracks. That service could potentially be operated by a private company:

Wisconsin business groups applaud federal grants for passenger rail projects

Local Chambers of Commerce in cities around Wisconsin say the recently-announced federal grants to study passenger rail expansion in the state are an important first step to determining the feasibility and potential economic benefits that trains could provide.
   The grants from the US DOT’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) provide for federally-funded planning to be undertaken to look at expanding service on current routes and adding train service to new cities around the state. Potential new cities include Appleton, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Eau Claire, Menomonie, Hudson, Pewaukee, Watertown, and Madison, with potential expanded service for Sturtevant/Racine, Milwaukee, Portage, Tomah, and La Crosse.

FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program was created as a result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provides significant federal support for expansion of increasingly-popular passenger rail service.
   A number of local Chambers of Commerce, prominent state and local businesses, education leaders, and local tourism agencies have signed on to a statement enumerating the potential value to more trains in the state:

   “We support the expansion of passenger rail service in high-potential Wisconsin corridors as a needed and worthwhile investment for the economic future of our state. Frequent service to more cities will help attract and retain business and the talent critical to its success; provide a convenient, economical, and environmentally-friendly alternative to driving; accelerate economic growth opportunities; improve quality of life; increase tourism; and add resiliency to our transportation system.”

   The list of signees includes Chambers in Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Fond du Lac, Fox Cities, Green Bay, Menomonie, Milwaukee, and Oshkosh, as well as regional economic development organizations (including Momentum West), local tourism bureaus (including Visit Eau Claire), and a number of prominent businesses, such as the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Bucks. Businesses serving West Central Wisconsin on the list include Ayres Associates, Banbury Place/Cigan Properties, Cellcom, Festival Foods, Molson Coors, Nicolet National Bank, Prevail Bank, Royal Credit Union, Valley Sports Academy, as well as educational institutions including Chippewa Valley Technical College, Northwood Technical College, UW-Eau Claire, UW-River Falls, and UW-Stout. Click here for the full list, as well as to add your business or organization's name. 


January 30, 2024

Amtrak, DOT officials provide updates on passenger train expansion in Wisconsin

Work is about to begin on a study that will determine the future of passenger train service in West Central Wisconsin. That was the word from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Jennifer Murray at a meeting in Eau Claire Tuesday, January 30th.

“This summer, Wisconsin DOT will begin step one for the Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, Twin Cities corridor,” Murray said. “With that, we will begin looking at a scope of work for the service development plan and we’re going to analyze that route from Chicago to the Twin Cities through Madison and Eau Claire.”

Meanwhile, passenger traffic on existing trains is slowly getting back to pre-pandemic levels, according to Amtrak’s Derrick James. The only passenger train in Wisconsin currently is Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which runs from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, passing through the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells, Tomah and La Crosse. Wisconsin also operates The Hiawatha Service between Milwaukee and Chicago, in cooperation with Illinois.

James told the group he expects the number of Amtrak passengers this year to reach or exceed the peak seen in 2019. James also said Amtrak remains committed to working with private train operators, too. One of the proposals being examined is a short-line service between Eau Claire and St. Paul, using the existing Union Pacific tracks. That service could potentially be operated by a private company.

Federal Railroad Administration approves grant money for Wisconsin rail projects

FRA awards grants for 7 Wisconsin passenger rail corridors

Eau Claire-Twin Cities included in awards

   Longtime efforts to establish passenger rail service along the West Central Wisconsin Corridor through Eau Claire, Menomonie, Baldwin, and Hudson/River Falls took a big step forward on Friday, when the route was part of two corridors awarded planning grants by the US DOT's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). They were among seven grants awarded that could expand rail passenger service to Wisconsin communities. 

   • Eau Claire-Twin Cities Corridor: The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition is one of 10 members of the Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission, which successfully submitted an application to study the Eau Claire-Menomonie-Baldwin-Hudson/River Falls-Twin Cities route as a multi-frequency regional corridor. The Commission's application is unique in that it proposes a competitive process for selecting a train operator, and an innovative direct access model for securing track access with the host railroad, Union Pacific, over whose tracks trains would operate. In addition to serving an important mobility role for communities along the line, the Commission also will consider using zero-emission passenger equipment, and plans to aggressively pursue transportation-oriented economic development at stations on the line.

   Members of the Commission include Dunn, Eau Claire, and St. Croix counties, and the municipalities of Altoona, Baldwin, Eau Claire, Hudson, Menomonie, and New Richmond. Ex officio members include Union Pacific, WisDOT, MnDOT, Ramsey County MN, Washington County MN, West Central WI Regional Planning Commission, CVTC, Northwood Technical College, UWEC, UWRF, and UW-Stout.

   On Friday, December 8, The Commission received official notification of the award from FRA, which indicated it will set up a kick-off meeting in the near future. 

   • Milwaukee to Madison to Eau Claire to Twin Cities Hiawatha Service Extension Corridor: One of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's (WisDOT) four Corridor ID applications is a line to extend trains from its successful Chicago-Milwaukee "Hiawatha" route to run via Madison and/or Eau Claire. When implemented, the service would complement the Commission's local corridor with fast trains not only to the Twin Cities, but also to connect our region to Milwaukee and Chicago.

   The other Wisconsin-related corridors awarded planning grants include: 

• Milwaukee to Chicago Hiawatha Service Expansion Corridor (WisDOT)

• Milwaukee to Green Bay Hiawatha Service Extension Corridor (WisDOT)

• Twin Cities to Milwaukee to Chicago Great River Service Corridor (WisDOT; additional trains on the current route via La Crosse)

• Northern Lights Express Twin Cities-Superior-Duluth (MnDOT)

• North Coast Hiawatha (Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, new long-distance Chicago-Seattle route via southern ND and Montana, through Wisconsin via Eau Claire or La Crosse)

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

   The Corridor ID grants are the first step in the creation of a pipeline of corridors eligible for federal funding to implement the more than $66 billion designated for national passenger rail development. They will provide for the opportunity to assess potential ridership, track and station requirements, costs, and economic return-on-investment for each of the corridors. This work will help ready the corridors for the next steps in development, including Service Development Plans, environmental clearances, and potential implementation.  
   Overall, FRA designated 69 corridors across the country, and awarded implementation funds for existing projects under development in states like Virginia, North Carolina, Nevada, and California.

More information:  

 ($ - links requiring a subscription; + - links that may have an article limit)

Study to be done on bringing passenger trains from Eau Claire to Minneapolis (WQOW News 18)


Rail Coalition announces grant money for studies (WEAU 13 News)

Progress on passenger trains through EC move forward thanks to federal grant (Eau Claire Leader-Telegram $)


Wisconsin gets $2.5 million to study Amtrak expansion from Milwaukee to Green Bay, Madison (Green Bay Press-Gazette +)

President Biden Announces $8.2 Billion in New Grants for High-Speed Rail and Pipeline of Projects Nationwide (Federal Railroad Administration) 

FY22 Corridor Identification and Development Program Selections (Full list of awards, Federal Railroad Administration)

Takeaways From a Blockbuster Week for Trains Across America (High Speed Rail Alliance)

Rail Passengers Applaud Release of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rail Funds (Rail Passengers Association)

Explainer: How the Corridor ID Program works (High Speed Rail Alliance)

Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission, WisDOT expected to apply for federal corridor program to bring passenger trains to area

 At the Annual Meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition last Thursday in Eau Claire, speakers from WisDOT, Amtrak, contract passenger train operators, and the High Speed Rail Alliance expressed optimism about our area's eligibility for a new federal corridor program that could bring passenger trains to the Chippewa Valley.

 "Our long-time efforts to secure passenger rail service are coming closer than ever to reality," notes Scott Rogers, Chair of the Rail Coalition. "With the implementation of the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced its program to designate corridors to become eligible for federal planning and development funding."

The Coalition has been working with the recently-created Chippewa-St. Croix Rail Commission and WisDOT to pursue two serious proposals that would bring passenger trains to our communities, including:

(1) The development of a regional intercity corridor between Eau Claire and the Twin Cities through Menomonie, Baldwin, and Hudson/River Falls, and

(2) Plans for through Amtrak service from Chicago and Milwaukee to the Twin Cities that would be routed via Eau Claire, Menomonie, and Hudson.

The Commission was formed by Dunn, Eau Claire, and St. Croix Counties and the municipalities of Altoona, Baldwin, Eau Claire, Hudson, Menomonie, and New Richmond, to serve the public interest by pursuing passenger rail service to the area.

March 20 deadline for applications

    At last week's meeting, details were shared about anticipated applications to the FRA corridor program that would include not only the Chippewa-St. Croix corridor, but also services to the Fox Cities, Green Bay, and Madison. Speakers included Lisa Stern, Chief of Railroads and Harbors, Wisconsin Department of Transportation; Arun Rao, Director, Network Development, Amtrak; Ray Chambers, Executive Director, Association for Innovative Passenger Rail Operations (AIPRO), and Rick Harnish, Executive Director, High Speed Rail Alliance.

   Acceptance into the FRA corridor program would bring with it $500,000 in federal planning grants for each corridor to determine the feasibility and economic benefits that train service would provide and to determine next steps.

Business supporters sought for sign-on statement

   To strengthen Wisconsin's case for passenger rail expansion, the Business Coalition for Passenger Rail is seeking businesses and business organizations to sign on to a statement supporting further planning and study. Organizers of the Business Coalition include the Greater Green Bay Chamber, the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Area Chamber, the Madison Region Economic Partnership, and the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce. Some of the initial signers have included Ayres Associates, Royal Credit Union, the Green Bay Packers, Bellin Health, Schneider National, Festival Foods, Findorff construction, Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison, SupraNet Communications, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, Momentum West, the Northern Wisconsin State Fair Association, the Oshkosh Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Visit Eau Claire. 
More information:

Business Sign-On Statement: Wisconsin Passenger Rail Support

Plans for passenger rail service in Eau Claire moving forward (WQOW New 18)

West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition gathers for annual meeting (WEAU 13 News)

 

Wisconsin DOT official says expanded rail service could come sooner than expected

Expanded passenger train service between Chicago and the Twin Cities could come as early as late 2022, according to a Wisconsin Department of Transportation official. That was the news Arun Rao brought to the January meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition. Rao is the Wisconsin DOT’s top passenger train expert. To watch his presentation, click here: https://youtu.be/sNzurNrgB8U

Amtrak official says alternate Chicago-Minneapolis route through Eau Claire is possible

Derrick James, Senior Manager of Government Affairs for Amtrak, says an alternate Minneapolis-Chicago route through Eau Claire is something Amtrak is considering.

James was the guest speaker at the December meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition. During his presentation, James showed a map from Amtrak’s “Connects US” plan which shows a route through the Chippewa Valley. Amtrak’s current service between the Twin Cities and Chicago goes through southern Minnesota before crossing the Mississippi at La Crosse, and then on through Tomah.

James said the federal infrastructure bill, recently signed into law by President Biden, includes millions of dollars for expanded passenger train service.

Click here: https://youtu.be/pYaPWaeZ9UM watch the presentation.

New Federal Infrastructure Bill's Impact on Passenger Train Proposals

The infrastructure bill recently signed into law by President Biden includes money for expanding passenger train service across the United States. At this month’s meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition, chair Scott Rogers discussed how the bill might impact plans to bring passenger trains to the Chippewa Valley and beyond: https://youtu.be/P2zqAJBGmjE

High Speed Rail Alliance Exec discusses efforts to expand passenger train service

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Chicago native Rick Harnish founded the HSRA in 1993 and has served as its Executive Director since 2001.

According to its website, the Alliance “builds the political will for systemic change by advocating for integrated rail and transit networks connected by 200+ MPH high-speed lines.”

To watch a replay of the discussion concerning the status of federal legislation to invest in nationwide passenger rail development, click here: https://youtu.be/NoRjzPHuEvo

Eau Claire Passenger Train Rally Attracts Weekend Crowd

Rail4.jpg

More than two dozen people gathered in Eau Claire’s Phoenix Park Saturday to push for expanded passenger train service for the Chippewa Valley. The “Rally for Rail” was organized by the Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance.

The goal was to encourage congress to pass President Biden’s infrastructure bill, which includes money for improving passenger rail. Among the speakers was Mark Quam of the Western Wisconsin Rail Coalition, who talked about how important transportation connectivity is to Eau Claire’s future.

State Rep. Jodi Emerson (D)-Eau Claire says extending passenger rail service to Eau Claire would allow workers to more easily commute to jobs in other places: “I think it’s a great way to expand our city and have our people have places to work that are not necessarily tied to Eau Claire.”

Others touted trains as being more environmentally responsible.

Rail Passengers C.E.O. Discusses Strategies for Improving Service at May WWRC Meeting

Jim Mathews, the president and C.E.O. of the national Rail Passengers Association, was the guest speaker at the May meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition on Thursday, May 20th. He talked with members about strategies for getting federal assistance to expand rail service. Watch the replay of the meeting here: https://youtu.be/0iWjdmLOzgk