Another passenger-rail attempt in Wisconsin

By Bridget Dean, Senior Associate Editor

Wisconsin leaders are trying again to establish passenger-rail service between Milwaukee and Madison.

On June 25, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) applied for a federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Investment (CRISI) grant to extend the state-supported Amtrak Hiawatha route west about 80 miles.

As proposed, the Hiawatha service — which provides seven daily round trips between Chicago and Milwaukee — would add two daily round trips to Madison. The route would utilize existing freight-rail infrastructure, according to a press release from Evers’ office. The grant would fund track and bridge upgrades, grade crossing improvements and the construction of three temporary station platforms.

WisDOT requested $218.2 million in CRISI funds against an estimated project cost of $272.8 million; remaining costs would be covered by local and state dollars, WisDOT officials said in an email.

This is the latest of several attempts to reconnect the state’s most populous city with its capital via passenger rail. The cities haven’t been connected by rail since 1971.

In 2009, former Gov. Jim Doyle secured a deal with Talgo to manufacture two trains; Wisconsin was also awarded $810 million in federal funds for a Milwaukee-Madison high-speed rail project. In 2010, newly elected Gov. Scott Walker rejected the funding.

Despite the setback, demand for passenger rail in Wisconsin has not disappeared. Amtrak launched the Borealis, a Chicago-Twin Cities route, in May 2024. Borealis ridership has exceeded projections, according to Amtrak, and the Hiawatha in July added new cars to its trainsets to accommodate increased demand.

Topic of discussion

The same day the CRISI application was submitted in June, the High Speed Rail Alliance held an event in Milwaukee titled “Thinking Big About Wisconsin Passenger Rail.” Attendees obtained an overview of Wisconsin’s rail history and status updates on rail projects.

Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota have been trying to connect Chicago and the Twin Cities region with high-speed passenger rail for decades, said keynote speaker Hayden Clarkin, a transit engineer known online as the Transit Guy. Multiple planning studies showed economic benefits to such a rail system, but the high upfront cost is a tough selling point for more fiscally conservative residents and lawmakers, Clarkin added.

Rail projects also move slowly. The pre-development study process is tremendously complicated, said Jeff Stone, a VP at Kapur & Associates and a conference panelist. There needs to be broad, bipartisan support for simplifying how transportation development is done, Stone said.

Beyond Amtrak

Planning continues for the Milwaukee Area-Racine-Kenosha (MARK) Rail, a proposed commuter railroad that would use freight infrastructure east of the Hiawatha corridor to connect with Metra.

The city of Racine in 2022 received $5 million in federal funding for a corridor feasibility study.

MARK Rail Commission Chair and Racine Mayor Cory Mason told conference attendees the commission is ready to apply for a federal corridor ID grant to support track upgrades.

Separately, work is underway to establish a privately funded and operated commuter-rail system in southeast Wisconsin. The company, LinkLine, secured funding for an economic impact study and is now raising funds to validate initial studies, model ridership and revenue projections, secure regulatory approvals and engage freight partners and the public. LinkLine would complement larger, state-led passenger-rail initiatives.

“While state-led passenger rail initiatives focus on connecting cities like Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago, LinkLine is focused on connecting southeast Wisconsin residents to jobs, education, essential services and recreation activities,” said LinkLine CEO Jaqulynn Honl in an email. “Together, these investments create a stronger, more connected transportation network.”