IMMEDIATE ADOPTION
Number
200251
Version
ORIGINAL
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN
Title
Resolution expressing the City of Milwaukee’s support for the 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Grant application of the Wisconsin and Minnesota departments of transportation to expand Amtrak passenger rail service in the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the City of Milwaukee’s support for the 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement Grant application of the Wisconsin and Minnesota departments of transportation to expand Amtrak passenger rail service in the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor.
...Body
Whereas, Currently, passenger rail service over the entire Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor is provided by a single train, Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which operates once daily in each direction; and
Whereas, Because it is a long-distance train that operates between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, the Empire Builder is often several hours late by the time it serves communities in the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor; and
Whereas, This combination of limited service frequency and common service delays significantly curtails the viability and attractiveness of passenger rail as a transportation option for residents and visitors of cities and towns along the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor; and
Whereas, The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Transportation have submitted a joint application to the Federal Railroad Administration for a 2020 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program grant to facilitate implementation of additional passenger rail service in the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor; and
Whereas, The CRISI grant would allow for operation of a second daily round-trip train in the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago corridor, approximately 4 to 6 hours apart from the existing Empire Build...
Click here for full text