The Daily Reporter – WI Construction News & Bids Wisconsin's Construction Authority
WINONA, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota lawmakers need to approve $1 million next year for the second phase of a study considering the possibility of adding a second Twin Cities-to-Chicago passenger train with stops in Red Wing and Winona.
Legislators are already faced with more than $3 billion in requests for construction projects in Minnesota, according to the Post Bulletin.
Red Wing Mayor Sean Dowse said a second train would help boost the city’s economy.
“Bottom line, I think it would be helpful to us both economically and as a benefit of living in Red Wing,” he said.
The current Amtrak Empire Builder route has a once-daily round-trip service from the Twin Cities to Chicago.
The Minnesota and Wisconsin transportation agencies studied the possibility of having a second route in 2015 that found there was enough demand to warrant a second train.
“We have seen a lot of support for adding the second train,” said Praveena Pidaparthi, planning director for the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Passenger Rail Office. “It basically provides more travel options to the public.”
The proposed train would have a maximum speed of 79 miles an hour and be able to get from St. Paul to Chicago in just over six hours.
The study estimates that a second train would have 155,000 riders annually and generate more than $6.8 in annual revenue. The project is estimated to cost more than $95 million and have an additional $6.6 million in annual operating and maintenance costs.
The next phase of the feasibility study requires an environmental analysis of the route and a service-development plan.
If the funding is approved, a new passenger train could be operating in 2022.
