New Amtrak route connects Chicago, Milwaukee and Twin Cities; momentum builds for additional rail expansion

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Traveling across the Midwest just got a little easier for some travelers with a new passenger rail service now connecting Milwaukee to the Twin Cities.

At the Milwaukee airport Amtrak station, state and local officials celebrated the launch of the "Borealis Train" service that will connect three major cities: Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, Minnesota.

The route also makes stops in La Crosse, Tomah, Wisconsin Dells, Portage, Columbus, and Sturtevant.

The project marks the first major expansion of passenger train services in over two decades in Wisconsin. It was made possible with funding though the bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress in 2021.

"We are in a new era of rail," said Nicole Bucich, vice president of network development at Amtrak. "We can expand mobility, economic and environmental benefits."

Officials at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation said the new passenger service will play a pivotal role in selling future rail expansion projects, including a proposal to connect passengers between Milwaukee and Madison, Eau Claire to St. Paul, Minnesota, as well as an extension of the Amtrak Hiawatha route to Green Bay.

"We know we have the NFL Draft coming (to Green Bay) next year,” said Kristina Boardman, deputy secretary at the Wisconsin DOT. “We are looking at new opportunities, but we are assessing the need, and we have some grant funds to study that right now.”

The state received $2.5 million in federal funds to study rail expansion that would connect Madison, Green Bay, the Fox Valley, and Eau Claire. Those areas were identified by the DOT as communities that could benefit from passenger rail as outlined in the agency's 2050 rail plan.

Boardman said this week she's meeting with officials to discuss how to improve transportation when Green Bay hosts the 2025 NFL Draft, but emphasized rail expansion will require more input from customers and residents before sharing "additional data and information" to state lawmakers.

While the project is heavily relying on federal funds, it will likely require buy-in from the GOP-controlled Legislature.

Tom Lynch, the director of transportation for the city of Madison, told CBS in 2022 the first few phases of the plan to connect Madison and Milwaukee will not require state funding. However, he and other city officials indicated that could change.

GOP leaders Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu have both expressed opposition to dedicating state funds to expand passenger rail to Madison primarily due to concerns Wisconsin could be "on the hook subsidizing for the next 30 years."

Liz Callin, a senior transportation planner for the city of Madison, said while funding is a key aspect to the project, selling the experience is also important.

"I think part of it is having people get to know passenger rail and how convenient it can be, how enjoyable the travel experience is and enhance productivity by being able to work on the train," said Callin. "We have to look at the benefits and what are the cost-saving benefits of bringing this kind of enhanced service."

Madison is currently evaluating eight possible locations for an Amtrak hub. Callin said to expect an announcement from the city on narrowing down a location by sometime this summer.