The proposed Hiawatha West Amtrak line connecting Milwaukee and Madison has received a $218 million federal grant for its design and construction, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
While the new line will still require about $55 million in state funding, the federal money brings the line, which will include stops in Pewaukee and Watertown, closer to reality.
“We’ve been working hard to build the safe, reliable 21st-century infrastructure needed to support Wisconsin’s growing 21st-century economy and workforce, and we’re excited to move this critical project forward to do just that,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a statement.
Hiawatha West service could start as soon as 2030 with two round trips daily.
Upgrades to the existing track could also make it possible to serve businesses that use freight rail service, according to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin.
