All aboard! Wisconsin and Minnesota on track for improved passenger rail

A variety of railroad projects are coming together to greatly improve passenger service in Wisconsin, including “higher speed” rail.

They include: doubling daily service between St. Paul and Chicago; increasing the number of round-trip Milwaukee to Chicago trains from seven to 10; express service between Minneapolis and Duluth-Superior; and, already underway, more than $5 million in improvements to the Milwaukee Airport Railroad Station at General Mitchell International Airport, with completion expected in 2023.

Funding for several of the projects is included in Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’ Building One Minnesota plan, announced Jan. 15. Walz proposes $2.6 billion in bonding to invest in education, environment, public safety and infrastructure.

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Additional passenger train from St. Paul to Chicago closer to becoming a reality

Winona Daily News, February 3, 2020 - A second passenger train traveling to and from Saint Paul to Chicago, with stops in Winona and La Crosse, is very nearly a likelihood, but there are still many pieces that need to fall into place.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Jan. 10 that $10 million in funding for the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago Second Train project is included in his 2020 bonding proposal.

The Great River Rail Commission, a group of officials from 18 cities and counties — including Winona and La Crosse — who advocate for additional rail service, said the money would be used in creating an additional service that complements the Amtrak Empire Builder service and runs on existing tracks.

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Second Train advocates ramp up efforts

With the 2020 legislature about to begin, the advocates of the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) Second Train are increasing efforts to get residents and legislators on-board. Students at Winona State University and St. Mary’s University learned more about the opportunity for a second round-trip passenger rail train to complement Amtrak’s Empire Builder. Great River Rail Commission members and friends asked students to contact legislators and sign a petition in January. Between the two schools, more than 120 signatures were gathered. Winona City Councilmember Paul Schollmeier and Winona County Commissioner Chris Meyer met with students at Winona State, while Winona County Commissioner Marie Kovecsi and local passenger rail advocates Leone and Tom Mauszycki met with students at St. Mary’s University. The project is included in Gov. Walz’s bonding proposal, but needs legislative approval of funding to complete planning.

Learn more at www.greatriverrail.org.