Projects in Wisconsin
Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison-St. Paul
Governor Scott Walker rejected over $800 million in Recovery Act funds to extend the Chicago - Milwaukee Amtrak service to Madison. The funds were distributed to other states in the U.S., primarily California and Florida. Service was expected to begin by 2013, with an initial 6 round-trips per day.
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Watch a point–counterpoint interview with the Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation
Link to WisDOT project website
KRM Commuter rail
The Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) commuter rail service would be a separately operated extension of the Chicago - Kenosha Metra (though some trains would travel along the tracks used by the Metra/Union Pacific North Line to Chicago with a stop in Waukegan) and travel north to downtown Milwaukee. The cost of the 35-mile route is estimated at $200 million. Link to project website
Dane County Commuter Rail
Gov. Jim Doyle recently approved a funding plan for a Madison Regional Transit Authority (RTA) for Dane County, which would coordinate studies into routes and transit options.
Milwaukee-Green Bay
The MWRRI envisions 7 daily roundtrips from Chicago to Green Bay via Milwaukee, with additional stops in Appleton, Oshkosh, and several other cities and towns, a 180-mile corridor. Little work has been done in terms of dedicated planning and studying of the route. However, a recently formed coalition called NEWRails, seeks to help raise awareness and support for the project. Link to NEWRails
