MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) - The push to restore passenger rail service between Wisconsin's two largest cities is gaining momentum once again.

State officials have submitted a federal grant application that would expand Amtrak's Hiawatha service west from Milwaukee to Madison, marking the most significant step toward restoring passenger rail service to the capital city in decades.

Madison has not had passenger rail service since the 1970s. Efforts to bring it back have been discussed for years, but the cost of the project has remained a major hurdle.

In partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Amtrak, Gov. Tony Evers has applied for a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement grant through the federal government.

The application comes after the Trump administration announced in April that it would invest more than $2 billion in rail infrastructure improvements nationwide.

“It definitely gives hope,” said Chris Ott, president of the Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers. “This is a really helpful step in the right direction that again would benefit a lot of people.”

The Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers has advocated for expanded rail service for nearly 50 years.

If approved, the project would extend two daily Chicago-to-Milwaukee Hiawatha trains to Madison, with additional stops in Watertown and Pewaukee. The expanded route would serve Dane, Jefferson and Waukesha counties.

According to the governor's office, the project would create an estimated 200 permanent jobs and generate approximately $46 million in annual economic benefits.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation

“A national organization called the Rail Passengers Association did a study a few years ago that found that for every dollar invested in trains in Wisconsin, that added about $7 to the state economy,” Ott said.

WISDOT estimates the project would cost $272.8 million.

Of that total, $218.2 million would come from federal funding, while $54.6 million would need to come from state and local sources. Officials noted the local funding has not yet been secured and would not be requested unless the federal grant is awarded.

Supporters argue the benefits would extend beyond train riders.

“Even people who weren’t on the train would benefit because it would reduce traffic and pollution,” Ott said.

The governor's office expects federal funding decisions to be made in the coming months.

In a statement, Evers said:

“Ensuring Wisconsin has the 21st-century transportation and infrastructure we need to compete for workers and thrive in a 21st-century economy must be a top priority for our state, especially if we want to keep working toward the future we've been building together over the last seven years. This is an important effort that should have happened a long time ago, and I’m hopeful the Trump Administration will approve our request so we can get this done.”