Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced a $72.8 million federal grant received by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to improve freight and passenger rail services in Wisconsin. The investment, awarded through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, is funded by the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The Muskego Freight Rail Yard Bypass Project will reconfigure existing track and yard facilities along the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railway corridor in Milwaukee. The project establishes a new double-track mainline through Muskego Yard so freight trains can bypass the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
The funding allows 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 also critical to the success of four proposed passenger rail corridors being studied now through the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program. The WisDOT study is assessing the feasibility of bringing new or enhanced passenger rail service to Wisconsin communities such as Green Bay, Eau Claire, and Madison.
Wisconsin’s partnership with CPKC will help WisDOT improve the Amtrak Hiawatha and Borealis services. Amtrak will provide $7 million in matching funds.
