MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has included $45 million for expanded Amtrak Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago in his proposed budget, Wisconsin Public Radio reports.
The money would match federal grants to fund route improvements needed before Hiawatha service could be expanded to 10 round trips daily from the current seven.
State Department of Transportation Secretary Craig Thompson told the radio station that eight projects need to be completed before service can be expanded. One of those, improvements at the Milwaukee airport station, is already being funded by a federal grant announced in February. [See “FRA announces $56 million in rail improvement grants,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 8, 2019.]
Efforts to increase Hiawatha service are being slowed by the Chicago suburbs of Lake Forest and Glenview, which are fighting the addition of a siding needed for the expanded service, citing concerns over noise and possible additional freight traffic. [See “Illinois slows plans to expand Hiawatha service,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 11, 2018.]
