Leaders of Green Bay and Fox Valley cities advocated for extending Amtrak services to their region as federal infrastructure law promises $66 billion in railroad funding.
Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said Tuesday he isn't ruling out the use of state funds to construct a passenger rail line between the cities of Madison and Milwaukee that would also expand connections between Chicago and St. Paul, Minnesota.
The Republican leader of the Wisconsin Senate said Thursday that he opposes spending any state money to help Madison bring a passenger rail line that would connect the capital city to Milwaukee, joining the state's other top GOP legislative leader in opposition to the project.
Proponents of expanding passenger rail service through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas hope an anticipated influx of federal infrastructure funding will get the the long-discussed route off the ground.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will get a $2.7 million federal grant for infrastructure upgrades on 2 miles of track near the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
A federal agency is planning a public hearing next week on a proposed $8 billion, 278-mile rail line from Indiana to Wisconsin aimed at relieving Chicago-area freight congestion.
A high-speed passenger rail train between the Twin Cities and Chicago may be a little closer to becoming a reality now that a group of funders, including the Ramsey County Regional Rail Authority, has committed money for an environmental assessment.