Federal Funds to Improve Milwaukee-Chicago Rail Corridor

MILWAUKEE, Wis (Civic Media) – A $72.8 million federal grant will help expand passenger rail service between Milwaukee and Chicago, officials announced Monday.

The funding, from the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program, will support the Muskego Yard Bypass Project.

A statement from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin says the project is crucial for increasing the frequency of Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service between the two cities. She said the investment will allow more people to “conveniently travel by train” and keep costs down for businesses and consumers.

Inbox: Tammy Baldwin announced nearly $73 million in federal funding for the Muskego Yard Bypass Project, boosting freight rail capacity and allowing more passenger rail trips between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Release here: https://t.co/Q2gQdIAeP8

— Dan Shafer (@DanRShafer) October 28, 2024

The project will create a new double-track mainline through the Muskego yard, becoming the primary route for freight traffic through Milwaukee. This will free up capacity at Milwaukee Intermodal Station for additional passenger trains.

Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman called the funding “pivotal,” saying it will “significantly reshape our rail infrastructure plans in the coming years.”

The Hiawatha Service is one of Amtrak’s busiest routes in the Midwest, carrying over 880,000 passengers in 2019. Officials hope the improvements will allow for more frequent service on this popular route.

Construction timeline details were not immediately available. The project is currently in the final design phase.