ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has included more than $5 million in funding for a second Chicago-Twin Cities passenger train in his recommendations for the state’s 2024-24 budgets.
The La Crosse Tribune reports the recommendations include increases in the state funding in capital projects to reflect inflation, as well as funds to match a federal grant for the first three years of the service.
In all, Walz’s budget recommendations include:
— $940,000 in Fiscal 2024 and $980,000 in 2025 for capital improvements on the route;
— $893,200 in 2024 and $2.258 million to match the federal grant;
— $122,000 in 2024 and 2025 for project management and grant administration;
— $4.876 million beginning in fiscal 2026 for Minnesota’s portion of the operating cost.
Final design work for what is known as the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago, or TCMC, project began last fall [see “Final design phase begins …,” Trains News Wire, Sept. 20, 2022]. The train could begin operating as early as 2024.
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