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)