(The following article by Larry Sandler was posted on the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel website on January 18.)
MILWAUKEE, Wisc. — Wisconsin opened a new train-to-plane link Tuesday with the dedication of an Amtrak station at Mitchell International Airport.
Four trains of Amtrak’s Milwaukee-to-Chicago Hiawatha line, two northbound and two southbound, had already stopped at the airport depot by the time Gov. Jim Doyle, U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett cut the ceremonial ribbon.
On Tuesday’s third northbound run, the Hiawatha offered a smooth, 10-minute ride from the airport to downtown Milwaukee, just long enough for conductors to sell $6 tickets to anyone who boarded at Mitchell. One-way fare from downtown Chicago to the airport is $20, the same as to downtown Milwaukee.
All Hiawatha trains stop at the new station, for a total of 14 trains each weekday and Saturday and 12 trains each Sunday and holiday.
Although many of Tuesday’s passengers were the officials and rail fans who crowded the dedication, a few appeared to be regular travelers. Passenger totals won’t be available for several weeks, said Ron Adams, rail chief for the state Department of Transportation.
Authorities declined to predict how many riders the airport depot would attract. A survey two years ago found, however, that 47% of current Hiawatha riders were willing to consider using the new station, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said.
Doyle said the new station offered “convenient, easy access” for Chicago travelers to use Mitchell and “avoid all the hassles of O’Hare” International Airport. Barrett noted this station is closer to its airport – and a shorter ride by free shuttle bus – than Amtrak’s other three airport depots in Baltimore, Newark, N.J., and Burbank, Calif.
It’s also an option for Milwaukee-area residents who might find the location more convenient than the downtown and Sturtevant depots, particularly during freeway reconstruction, said Adams and Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi.
Doyle thanked Kohl for his aid in obtaining $6.5 million in federal money for the $6.8 million station. Parking revenue from the depot’s $5-a-day, 300-space lot is expected to cover operating costs.