Miles SmithThe Federal Railroad Administration recently awarded $72.8 million to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to improve freight and passenger rail services across the state.
The investment was awarded through the FRA’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program.
The Muskego Freight Rail Yard Bypass Project will reconfigure existing track and yard facilities along the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway corridor in Milwaukee, WisDOT said.
The project will create a new double-track mainline through Muskego Yard so freight trains can bypass the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, reducing travel time for freight while minimizing passenger train delays and freeing up track capacity to keep products moving safely and efficiently through the state.
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The award is the largest non-highway discretionary grant and the largest rail grant WisDOT has received to date through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The funding will also allow Wisconsin to support potential new and expanded passenger rail services between Milwaukee and Chicago via the popular Amtrak Hiawatha rail service route.
The upgrades are critical to the success of four proposed passenger rail corridors being studied now through the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, said WisDOT, which is conducting a feasibility study on bringing new or enhanced passenger rail service to Wisconsin communities such as Green Bay, Eau Claire and Madison.
The department will also work to improve the Amtrak Hiawatha and Borealis services. Amtrak will provide $7 million in matching funds. The project will remove the majority of freight from the MIS tracks, freeing up capacity within the Chicago–Milwaukee passenger corridor to reduce congestion, facilitate increases in Amtrak Hiawatha frequencies, and increase operational reliability.
Photo courtesy Milwaukee beerNut from Milwaukee, USA
