MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Wisconsin passenger rail developments came in twos June 25.
As rail advocates and southeast Wisconsin leaders were meeting for the “Think BIG About Wisconsin Passenger Rail” conference at Milwaukee’s Oriental Theatre, Governor Tony Evers separately announced a grant application sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation requesting $218.2 million to help fund a westward expansion of the Hiawatha Amtrak line.
“The opportunity to expand passenger rail has haunted Wisconsin for a generation because of a short-sighted political stunt—that decision cost our state dearly, and we want to right that wrong,” said Evers in a press release. A spokesperson confirmed in an email the application was for the 80 percent portion of the $272.8 million project price tag to be covered by federal dollars, with the state responsible for $54.6 million along with a $2.5 million annual operating subsidy…