Five routes in Wisconsin — including both the state’s existing Amtrak lines, which seek increased service — are among those selected for the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, according to members of Congress across the country. Selection provides funding for studies that are a prelude to new or expanded Amtrak service.
In all, nine more routes were announced today (Wednesday, Dec. 6):
— Phoenix-Tucson, Ariz.
— Fort Collins-Denver-Pueblo, Colo.
— Nashville-Memphis, Tenn.
— Pittsburgh-Philadelphia, Pa.
— Green Bay, Wis.-Milwaukee-Chicago
— Milwaukee-Madison-Eau Claire, Wis.
— Eau Claire-Twin Cities
— Milwaukee-Chicago (increased Hiawatha service)
— Chicago-Milwaukee-La Crosse-Twin Cities (increased service on the Empire Builder route)
Those routes join 14 announced on Tuesday [see “North Carolina, Ohio corridors lead list …,” Trains News Wire, Dec. 5, 2023]. The organizations sponsoring the applications for each route receive a $500,000 grant to formulate a Service Development Plan for the corridor. More on the Corridor ID program is available here.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) announced the Wisconsin selections, which will see $2.5 million for the studies go to the state’s Department of Transportation. Baldwin said in a press release that she was “excited to see these plans for passenger rail move forward.”
As outlined on the Amtrak ConnectsUS website, the Green Bay route would extend an existing Hiawatha train, with new intermediate stops in Fond Du Lac, Oshkosh and Appleton, Wis.
The increase sought on the Empire Builder route is apparently in reference to already-planned second daily train on that route, expected to launch next year [see “Second train between Twin Cities and Chicago …,” Trains News Wire, Nov. 3, 2023].
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.) announced that the Phoenix-Tucson corridor had been selected, with the Arizona Department of Transportation, which had sponsored the application, to receive the funding for the study. The Arizona DOT has provided an additional $3.5 million in project planning funds. Phoenix has not been served by Amtrak since 1996, when Union Pacific eliminated a route into the city and the Sunset Limited shifted its stop to Maricopa, more than 30 miles south.
Stanton noted at a hearing earlier this year that Phoenix is the largest city in the U.S. without passenger rail service. “As other communities have gained access to passenger rail, they’ve experienced significant new economic opportunities,” he said. “But Arizona has missed out.”
Colorado’s project is arguably one of the best-prepared corridors under consideration, with an existing governmental body, the Front Range Passenger Rail District, to support design, finance, and construction of a 160-mile. That group has already begun developing the Service Development Plan required under the Corridor ID program; it is expected to be completed next year.
U.S. Rep Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) announced the funding for the Front Range corridor, which would also serve Boulder and Colorado Springs, as well as other intermediate locations.
“This is yet another example of the ways in which the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering for the people of Colorado,” Neguse said in a press release. “This corridor stretches across more than 160 miles, connecting 13 of the most populous counties across the state and acting as a transportation ‘spine’ for the Front Range. I am excited to see this project become a reality for our growing communities.”
Inclusion of the Memphis-Nashville corridor follows Tuesday’s announcement of selection of a Nashville-Chattanooga-Atlanta route by Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly.
“Passenger rail service linking Tennessee’s major cities will be a major economic shot in the arm and will invigorate travel and tourism across our state,” U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) said in a statement. “… Once this service is in operation, much of the country will be accessible by rail from Memphis. This is a very big deal, and I look forward to working with stakeholders in all of the route’s proposed cities to continue to move this project forward.”
The Philadelphia-Pittsburgh corridor announcement was included in a release from Pennsylvania’s two senators announcing funds for infrastructure upgrades to accommodate a second daily Amtrak Pennsylvanian [see “Pittsburgh-Harrisburg route improvements …,” News Wire, Dec. 7, 2023].
The selection of 23 routes now means $11.5 million for route studies has been committed under the Corridor ID program. It is unknown how much funding is available, when the FRA might release the full list of routes selected, or how many other routes might be announced by legislators in the interim.
— Updated Dec. 7 at 8:45 a.m. to include Philadelphia-Pittsburgh corridor.
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