Wisconsin Governor Doyle Submits Application for High-Speed Rail Line to Federal Railroad Administration

October 02, 2009 -- MADISON - Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today the state submitted an application to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for federal funds to develop a $651.8 million high-speed passenger rail line between Milwaukee and Madison.

“I have been working hard work with federal partners to move Wisconsin into a new era of passenger rail service and this application is a big step towards that goal,” Governor Doyle said. “I have long believed that passenger rail is the missing link in our national transportation policy, and bringing passenger rail service to this area will create high-skilled jobs, spur economic growth, and make travel safe and comfortable.”

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The state application is for a discretionary rail grant under the Track 2 Corridor Programs of the FRA’s High-Speed Intercity Passenger Rail Program. A total of $8 billion in federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are available for distribution.

The Milwaukee to Madison high-speed passenger rail service would:

* Create nearly 13,000 jobs in the state by 2013
* Reduce automobile trips by 7.8 million over 10 years
* Save an estimated 27.6 million gallons of fuel over 10 years
* Provide environmental benefits including the reduction of 269,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions over 10 years
* Promote livable communities providing a healthier, more sustainable way of life
* Enhance connectivity with other modes, including public transit
* Mitigate congestion and help meet the growing travel demands between the state’s two largest metropolitan areas
* Improve regional mobility and freight service

Wisconsin’s application calls for track, signal and infrastructure improvements, the acquisition of two train sets and eight, energy-efficient “next generation” locomotives, a new maintenance facility and positive train controls for the corridor.

The service would operate as an extension of Amtrak’s existing Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha Service, with six round trips between Milwaukee and Madison including intermediate stops in Brookfield, Oconomowoc and Watertown.

An environmental assessment of the corridor has already been completed with sign-off from FRA in 2004.

Wisconsin is committed to implementing an improved and expanded passenger rail system throughout the Midwest. Wisconsin has been working cooperatively with the states of Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri in partnership with the FRA and Amtrak, on the development of a Midwest Regional Rail System since 1995.

Source: Wisconsin Governor