Number
201611
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE AND ALD. RAINEY, JOHNSON, LEWIS, KOVAC
Title
Substitute resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee’s support for the proposed Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago passenger rail service improvement project.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee’s support for intercity passenger rail service improvements to the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) corridor proposed by the Wisconsin and Minnesota departments of transportation.
Body
Whereas, The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Transportation have proposed intercity passenger rail service improvements for the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor; and
Whereas, The project would add a second daily round-trip in this corridor, providing both a morning and mid-day departure from Chicago and Saint Paul; and
Whereas, The project would improve railroad track, at-grade crossings, signals, and communication infrastructure in Winona, La Crescent and La Crosse to allow freight trains to bypass passenger trains and reduce delays; and
Whereas, The project would renovate interior space at the former Amtrak Midway Station in Saint Paul to serve as a crew base, layover and commissary facility if deemed necessary by Amtrak in future operations analysis; and
Whereas, Pending project approvals and funding availability, construction could begin in 2022, with service starting in 2024; and
Whereas, The proposed rail service improvement project in the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor would benefit Milwaukee and other communities along the route by increasing travel options for personal, leisure and business travel, supporting tourism, creating engineering and construction jobs, connecting workers with employment opportunities in other communities, and linking college students with colleges and universities; and
Whereas, The availability of passenger rail services enhances the ability of communities to attract and retain businesses, employees, residents and visitors; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, That the City of Milwaukee expresses its support for the proposed Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago intercity passenger rail project; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall send copies of this resolution to Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation Craig Thompson and Minnesota Commissioner of Transportation Margaret Anderson Kelliher.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB176623-1
Luke Knapp
3/26/2021