According to ridership forecasts, the proposed Hiawatha West extension of Amtrak service from Milwaukee to Madison could result in more than $20 million in projected visitor spending.
Arun Rao, senior director of network development for Amtrak, provided the data during a public webinar. The project is in the corridor planning phase, with Amtrak expecting to complete a service development plan in June.
The latest proposal for the train service is a 79-mph extension from Milwaukee to Madison that would start service in the early 2030s, if approved and funded as currently proposed.
Amtrak projects more than 260,000 annual passenger trips for initial ridership, slightly higher than earlier forecasts.
“Implementation of the Hiawatha West would yield significant benefits for Wisconsin, for the station communities and for nearby communities, and communities elsewhere in the state,” Rao said in a statement.
The project is a conventional speed service, not a high-speed rail.
Total project costs are expected to be between $215 million and $275 million, with existing federal grant programs covering up to 80% of project costs and state and local partners covering the other 20%.
