(The following story bBy Brett Boese appeared on The Post-Bulletin website on March 24, 2010.)
ROCHESTER, Minn. — More than 50 elected officials from Minnesota and Wisconsin gathered in La Crosse recently to drum up support for high-speed rail along a river route that would connect the Twin Cities to Madison, Wis., by 2015.
The proposal, which would essentially run along a rail line that already exists near the Mississippi River, is one of two being considered by Wisconsin officials. The other proposed route would run east from St. Paul to Eau Claire, though it’s unclear whether it would also hook up with Wisconsin’s capitol, which lies nearly 200 miles to the southeast.
The debate in Minnesota about where to build high-speed rail is essentially on hold until Wisconsin’s decision is made, said Red Wing Mayor John Howe. However, it’s clear what he prefers.
“We certainly feel the river route is the best route,” said Howe, who is a member of the Minnesota High Speed Rail Commission that meets monthly in Red Wing. “There’s a four-to-one payback.”
From Howe’s perspective, the river route has four advantages: it makes sense environmentally since a rail is already in place; improvement to the existing tracks would benefit current freight transportation; it would lead to a commuter option; and it would be more time- and cost-efficient to upgrade rather than build from scratch.
Rochester has often been mentioned as an alternative to Minnesota’s river route. While Howe doesn’t believe that a Rochester route has as much to offer, it remains under consideration.
Minnesota received $600,000 in federal stimulus money earlier this month to conduct an environment impact study for the project.
Once Wisconsin makes its decision — WisDOT secretary Frank Busalacchi says a study is being formulated — then MnDOT officials will better be able to chart their own path. It’s unclear how soon Wisconsin will decide between Eau Claire and La Crosse.
“We do need the Minnesota Department of Transportation to make a recommendation, a data-driven recommendation, and then we can make our case to the transportation officials,” Howe said.