(The following story by Steven Elbow appeared on the Capital Times website on October 10.)
MADISON, Wisc. — High gas prices, global warming and increasing traffic congestion, though nightmares for motorists, are good times for rail advocates.
With bipartisan, veto-proof support, Congress last week passed legislation that could finally put a Chicago-Madison-Milwaukee high-speed passenger Amtrak rail in place. The bill authorizes $3.4 billion in grants to fund rail corridors across the country. White House officials say President George W. Bush, never a big supporter of Amtrak, will sign the legislation.
“This is a huge victory because Congress is acknowledging we’ve got to move toward a world-class mass transit system in this country, said state Department of Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi.
Future plans call for routes from Madison to Minneapolis, and from Milwaukee to Green Bay. Planners hope eventually to create a 3,000-mile Midwest high-speed rail network spanning nine states, with Chicago as the hub.
The push for an Amtrak service linking Chicago, Madison and Milwaukee began about 10 years ago, when then Gov. Tommy Thompson, who also served as co-chairman of Amtrak, tried to get the ball rolling with a Midwest rail initiative. But the plan dropped off the map, and Amtrak has suffered from Congressional neglect.
With Amtrak ridership growing amid skyrocketing gas prices and concerns about the environment, Amtrak may be in for a rejuvenation. But the rail service provider’s fortunes could depend on presidential politics. Democratic presidential nominee, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama voted for the bill, while GOP nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain — a longtime critic of Amtrak — voted against it.
Busalacchi chairs the States for Passenger Rail Coalition, a group of officials from 31 states pushing for Congress to fund 80 percent of states’ passenger rail initiatives. He testified before both the U.S. House and Senate before passage of the bill.
“I said we need to stop this once-a-year bloodletting of Amtrak,” he said of his testimony. “We’re not ready. If people start a mass exodus to trains, we’re not ready because it takes a lot of equipment and a lot of infrastructure to do this.”
While competition for the $3.4 billion in federal grants authorized by the legislation will be fierce, Wisconsin will likely be in the front of the line.
Wisconsin has put rail lines in place, and the route has already passed environmental muster with the U.S. Department of Transportation. And the state Legislature has already authorized bonding for $80 million to put toward the state’s 20 percent share of the $441 million cost.
“We’re going to go after that money, I can assure you of that,” Busalacchi said. “If we get that money, within three years, I believe, we can have service.”
It’s the second round of good news for area passenger rail service. Over the summer, state legislative leaders put together a panel to draft enabling legislation for regional transit authorities, which will enable localities to set up taxing districts for transportation funding. That will put the long-anticipated Transit 2020 commuter rail line between Middleton and Sun Prairie a big step closer to reality. State Senate President Fred Risser, D-Madison, has said he expects that legislation — which has gained bipartisan support — to be introduced next session.
As currently envisioned, the Amtrak line will work in conjunction with the commuter rail, getting passengers to a station at the Dane County Airport where they can pick up commuter lines to downtown Madison and other commuter stops, according to David Trowbridge, Transport 2020 project manager. Amtrak would also use the same rail lines as the commuter service from the east end of the commuter line on Reiner Road, two miles west of Sun Prairie, to Madison.
Randy Wade, passenger rail manager for the state Department of Transportation, said the Amtrak service would get passengers from Madison to Chicago in two-and-a-half hours and cost about $42.
The line would include stops in Watertown, Oconomowoc and Brookfield, then after stopping in Milwaukee would go to Mitchell International Airport, Sturtevant, Glenview, Ill., then Chicago.
Busalacchi said the Amtrak legislation includes several energy initiatives aimed at addressing the high gas prices, environmental concerns and the nation’s dependence on foreign oil.
“I believe Congress is saying this is the right thing to do,” Busalacchi said. “It will help move toward energy independence if we put people on trains. It will help the environment.”