Some good news for Wisconsin. Wisconsin has received $73 million to improve passenger rail.
The funding will pay to construct a two-track mainline through the Muskego Yard, the large railyard in the Menomonee Valley. Currently, many freight trains avoid the yard and run through the Milwaukee Intermodal Station to avoid various height, speed and operational constraints in the Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) railyard. But in doing so, the freight trains reduce capacity at the state’s premier passenger train facility.
This project would likely bring an 8th daily Hiawatha trip to fruition.
The article also notes that the new Borealis route, which goes from Chicago to St. Paul, has serviced its 100,000th passenger ahead of schedule.
The new line, which launched in May, between Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul saw its 100,000 ride last week.
“Reaching 100,000 passengers in less than six months is a testament to the good things that can happen when we provide a service that is needed,” said Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “We are very excited to reach this milestone and look forward to strengthening our partnerships with communities, as well as federal, state and local governments, and Amtrak to continue providing a safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation option.”
An engineering plan associated with the project previously estimated that 124,000 trips would be taken on the line in the first year.
Now if we could only get a Hiawatha stop here in Madison. Or Empire Builder. Or Borealis.
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