Badger Rails Association of Railroad Passengers (WisARP)

Volume 28, Issue 4 May-June, 2010 Second Section

Doyle Chooses Monona Terrace for Madison Station

Governor announced May 6 that Cieslewicz said the city also has plans to build new Madison’s high speed rail station will be located underground parking to replace an existing downtown at the Monona Terrace. Government East parking ramp, and that those plans will be changed to accommodate parking for the “The Monona Terrace station will maximize station as well as Madison's first indoor parking ridership to and from Madison, and will provide facility for bicycles. easy access to other forms of transportation, the State Capitol, the convention center, businesses and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk also hotels,” Doyle said. “There were several other very approved Doyle’s decision in a May 6 statement. good potential locations in Madison, but when considering all the factors, the Monona Terrace is “Governor Doyle’s decision puts us on track for clearly the best option. In 2013, Wisconsin will taking advantage of our new state-of-the-art rail have modern high speed rail running from system that will spur job creation and economic downtown Chicago to downtown Milwaukee to development across southern Wisconsin,” Falk said. downtown Madison – a model for the future of rail “Now it is up to all of us to move ahead locally with in this country.” transportation plans to ensure that the new train station is an efficient transit hub that interconnects The State will now proceed with a complete with cars, buses and bikes and in the future, local environmental assessment of the Monona Terrace commuter trains.” station location, which will include opportunities for the public to provide further comments. As noted in our last issue, the state DOT at Gov. Construction of the segment between Madison and Doyle’s direction conducted a feasibility assessment Milwaukee will begin this year. By 2013, people of four specific site options in Madison: Monona will be able to ride in modern Talgo train sets from Terrace; Dane County Airport; First Street (“Yahara Madison to Chicago and beyond. Station”); and the Kohl Center. The assessment included a review of past studies done on the issue, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz was pleased with rail operations, ridership, access to other forms of the decision, calling it “a great day in Madison.” transportation, parking, traffic impacts, environmental issues, cost, site geometrics and “The governor couldn't have made a better choice,” opportunities for economic development. Cieslewicz said. “Downtown Madison is where visitors to Madison most want to be, along with the While the exact location of the station is not known University of Wisconsin. We'll get to work now on yet, Department of Transportation Executive plans to make sure that the campus is served with Assistant Chris Klein told the Wisconsin State frequent and fast bus connections to the new Journal the State is looking at three State-owned station.” Continued on Page 2

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Kenosha Metra Station Undergoes Renovation Madison Station from Page 1 Work is expected to begin soon on a renovation of buildings along Wilson Street where the station the Kenosha Metra station. The station will be would be housed and vertical access to a platform getting an interior and exterior rehabilitation and would need to be built. reconfiguration, with the restaurant area shifted to the south end, and a ticket sales counter, waiting Klein further said the decision to go Downtown area and remodeled rest rooms. Exterior renovation does not mean the state has lost confidence in will be in keeping with the historic nature of the receiving federal funding to extend the line to 1890s-era building. Minneapolis. Rather, the state may consider a second Madison station at the airport when it extends the line. Minnesota was awarded $1 million by the Federal Railroad Administration to study that extension.

In the coming weeks, the contract for the site analysis with Washington-based engineering firm CH2M Hill will need to be finalized. The state will then be able to establish a time line for developing station alternatives and holding public hearings. Station amenities and costs will be determined as a result of that process. Exterior Rendering by Partners in Design Meanwhile, the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad This work will comprise the first phase of the (WSOR), which operates on the track near Monona renovation, expected to be finished by September, Terrace, has expressed concerns that passenger 2010. The second phase will focus on the trains might interfere with yard operations and its restaurant/coffee shop, including equipment, gas freight service to Chicago. Railroad representatives and electrical services for the south end of the stated support for the Madison passenger service building. The Redevelopment Authority of the City May 7 but indicated there are still questions that of Kenosha hopes to finish negotiations for will need to be addressed as the DOT works to potential leasers/restaurant operator by June 1 and finalize the station site. have leases approved by June 15. The WSOR will be the beneficiary of the roadbed and track rehabilitation between Madison and Watertown necessary for high-speed operation. WSOR currently provides freight service over that State-owned corridor. The railroad will need to reroute its services during the period that the track work is ongoing.

WisARP will be surveying candidates for State and Federal offices as the campaign season progresses, and will communicate their views to you when we

Interior Rendering by Partners in Design receive them.

Partners in Design Architects, a Kenosha The Wisconsin Partisan Primary Election takes architectural firm, did the design work for the place on September 14, 2010. The General Election renovation. takes place November 2, 2010.

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Candidates for Governor Comment on Madison Service

The three major candidates for the office of opposed to unfunded liabilities when it comes to Wisconsin governor issued official statements state funds and taxpayer dollars. Doyle's Stimulus following Gov. Doyle's announcement that the Train is the epitome of an unfunded future liability." Madison station site would be downtown. Tom Barrett, Democratic Candidate Scott Walker, Republican Candidate Barrett, the current City of Milwaukee Mayor, Walker, the current Milwaukee County Executive, issued a statement through a spokesman May 6: stated May 6: Phil Walzak, campaign spokesman for Mayor "Every announcement by Governor Doyle and Barrett, said the reason Democrats and Republicans, Mayor Barrett on their controversial train including former Gov. , support boondoggle further commits our state to their pet the train is because it's about "construction jobs, project that taxpayers literally cannot afford. Our manufacturing jobs and the economic corridor." state’s transportation fund has been raided to the tune of $1.2 billion, which has delayed badly "Just saying ‘no' to everything is not going to move needed investment in our existing roads and bridges Wisconsin forward," Walzak said. "What across Wisconsin." Wisconsin needs is adult leadership that's going to create jobs." Walker continued, "As governor, I will stop this misguided and wasteful project.” In a web chat April 12, Barrett said: "People should recognize that when we speak about Milwaukee to Madison high speed rail, this is all part of a Mark Neumann, Republican Candidate bipartisan vision that was created over 10 years ago Neumann, a small business owner and former U.S. by Democratic and Republican governors to tie Representative, stated May 6: together the upper Midwest region," he said. "That "In tough times we have to cut spending, not take results in economic growth because it ties those on hugely expensive projects that analysis has states together and creates more economic activity. shown are not self-sustainable," Neumann said. "It "You will see construction jobs, you'll see economic is that kind of thinking that has left Wisconsin with development occurring, as a result of this. And a huge deficit, rising taxes and fees, and wasteful tying together the two largest economies in the State spending across the board." is important." Neumann's website states:

WisDOT Secretary Frank Busalacchi urged the U.S. "As Governor, Mark Neumann will immediately DOT May 12 to incorporate specific plans for long- stop this project in its tracks. Mark's business term revenue sources into its rail plan. Such fiscal background helps him understand the concept of certainty is essential for states that must line up 'sunk costs' — taking a small immediate hit is much equipment providers years in advance. "You can't start smarter and more responsible than accepting a long- building a house until you have enough money to buy term ongoing burden, especially when the money shingles for the roof," he said. belongs to the people of Wisconsin. By continuing a losing proposition, more scarce resources will be But Busalacchi also acknowledged the rise of political infighting over high-speed rail. "One of the problems lost when the project is revealed to have been a we have as a country is that we all continue to fight foolish investment." with each other. ... We spend a lot of our time

defending this (Madison high speed rail) grant," he "To be clear, Mark Neumann is not opposed to said, as critics charge that "it's going to cost taxpayers trains as a system of transportation. He supports any money because you're subsidizing the line." transportation system that is sustainable as it relates ‐ Source: DC.Streetsblog.org to taxpayer dollars. Instead, Mark Neumann is

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"I think it's importantLa Crosseto do this," Barrett Shows said. Support for Passenger Rail

By Bob Fisher La Crosse has been fortunate in being passed Resolutions of Support for Amtrak and rail geographically blessed to favor rail service. La service to western Wisconsin. When the Empire Crosse was the site of Wisconsin’s second rail Builder turned 75 years old in 2004, passenger rail crossing of the Mississippi River and the first supporters in La Crosse organized a party at the permanent bridge. (Prairie du Chien was the first Amtrak depot which garnered much good publicity, crossing site, but that utilized a pontoon bridge). and helped show the depth of public support in La Crosse (never mind the irony that the original Later, La Crosse was the junction and transfer site Empire Builder actually served La Crosse via the for five railroads (their most recognizable “modern” Burlington Railroad, a fierce competitor with the names were: Chicago, Burlington & Quincy; Milwaukee Road for service between Chicago and Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific; Chicago & the Twin Cities, and the Amtrak Empire Builder is North Western; Green Bay & Western; and La served from the former Milwaukee Road depot). A Crosse & Southeastern). All these roads offered year later, Amtrak had completed its refurbishing of passenger service, ranging from the mighty all the Empire Builder rolling stock, and the La Olympians on the Milwaukee Road, to the Zephyrs Crosse rail community threw another party! and 400s of the Burlington and the Northwestern, to the “Appendicitis Special” of the La Crosse & In the early 1990s, when the Midwest Regional Rail Southeastern, which frequently carried patients Initiative was developed by planners, and future from Westby and Coon Valley to the Gunderson “high speed” lines were designated throughout the Clinic, right alongside the track on the south side of Midwest, it was not surprising that the Empire La Crosse. As recently as 1970, the year before Builder route through La Crosse was chosen as the Amtrak took over most of the nation’s intercity rail Chicago-Twin Cities “high speed” corridor. passenger service, the Burlington and the WisARP has endorsed that route as the next stage of Milwaukee railroads were still running multiple high speed rail development in Wisconsin. passenger trains per day through La Crosse. As we all know, the latest interest in “high speed”, When the newly formed National Railroad or as some prefer to say, “higher speed” rail Passenger Corporation, soon to be known as passenger matters, has evolved into a study that will Amtrak, selected the skeleton of its intercity lines to look at up to six routes between Chicago and the continue operating, La Crosse was fortunate enough Twin Cities, and one route will be selected to to be on the Milwaukee Road/Burlington Northern receive federal funding for development as the route selected to link Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin initial “high speed” corridor between Chicago and Cities, and Portland/Seattle on what was named the the Twin Cities. This challenge to La Crosse’s Empire Builder route. “assumed” position on the “traditionally accepted” corridor has resulted in a flurry of partisan rail Over the years, La Crosse has celebrated its passenger support activity in La Crosse. The La transcontinental, intercity rail service. The former Crosse Area Economic Development Corporation Milwaukee Road depot serving Empire Builder (LADCO), a cooperative government-private passengers has been sensitively refurbished, organization dedicated to economic development rehabilitated, and still receives tender loving care efforts, and long supportive of Amtrak and rail from the City of La Crosse (platform passenger service, has taken the lead in organizing improvements) and its current private owners (a “The Empire Builder Coalition”. This group is new restaurant, office space, and landscaping). The comprised of the Chamber of Commerce, Visitor City and County of La Crosse, as well as and Convention Bureau, the two major medical neighboring counties have at various times when centers, local businesses of all sizes, the three post- federal and state support for Amtrak has lagged, Continued on Page 5

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La Crosse from Page 4 secondary educational institutions, the cities of La that meeting was the viewing of a video Crosse, Onalaska, and Tomah, and numerous other presentation from Minnesota in which various civic groups in the La Crosse area. The Coalition business and government leaders, and institutional has held several meetings, and is cooperating with a leaders, made their case for high speed rail in their similar support group in Minnesota. Winona, MN community. From that meeting, there evolved an Mayor Jerry Miller, a speaker at past WisARP effort to produce a similar video for Wisconsin and meetings, is very active in guiding the Minnesota the La Crosse area. coalition and in aiding the La Crosse coalition in planning its strategy. On April 16, LADCO held its annual Economic Forum. Joshua Coran of Talgo, who also spoke at At the December 8, 2009 Annual Meeting of the WisARP March meeting, gave a somewhat LADCO, a major noon lunch for the “movers and more general, less railfan-oriented presentation of shakers” of the La Crosse Area, LADCO was able the Talgo principle and the type of equipment that to get Governor Doyle to be the keynote speaker. It will be used on the Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison was “suggested” to the Governor that “High Speed service. Remember that while there is now great Rail” was a major interest item in La Crosse, and interest in high speed rail in La Crosse, many of the some remarks on that topic would be welcome. attendees at this meeting have never ridden a train, Well, governors being governors, that topic was or at least do not have the technical knowledge, nor apparently not foremost on his agenda that day, so in-depth interest in rolling stock that the typical he said relatively little on that topic, although he did WisARP member has. As a result Mr. Coran’s acknowledge that it would loom large in the future. message, while well presented, didn’t go into the detail his WisARP presentation did and so I didn’t On the weekend of January 23-24, 2010, a group of learn a lot new. The other featured speaker was about 30 La Crosse and Winona area people Amtrak’s Derrick James, Senior Government traveled by Amtrak to a Milwaukee Bucks- Affairs Director, Chicago. Derrick carried on the Minnesota Timberwolves game in Milwaukee. “It same theme I had heard other Amtrak officials just happens” Senator was there also, introduce at the Amtrak Forum in Chicago on and the Coalition members had a meeting with him March 6th. Basically, Long-Distance Intercity Rail to discuss high speed rail issues. It was hoped is back. More specific to the La Crosse quest for originally that a large contingent of Minnesota additional passenger service, whether it be “higher basketball fans and rail passenger supporters would speed” or “conventional speed,” he noted that the have traveled along the line from the Cities and Twin Cities-Chicago corridor is the 10th busiest in intermediate points, but some scheduling conflicts the Amtrak system, and the La Crosse passenger of the Minnesota contingent kept their numbers low. on/offs of 30,000 per year is good. He reassured the audience that Amtrak is not in the habit of taking A major event held this March in La Crosse at the away service from one community to give to Railroad Station BBQ in the La Crosse Amtrak another and the existing Empire Builder would depot building was a joint meeting of the La Crosse continue to operate through La Crosse regardless of and Minnesota “Empire Builder high speed what decision may be made regarding a high speed corridor” support groups. Wisconsin Secretary of corridor. He reiterated the value of increased daily Transportation Frank Busalacchi, and Minnesota train frequency. He stressed that all corridor service Transportation Commissioner Thomas Sorel were is dependent upon state financial assistance. both featured speakers to the audience of some 125 people. Both transportation leaders outlined how On May 8, La Crosse celebrated its third annual their state agencies have evolved from primarily National Train Day. When Amtrak started this idea highway departments to full service transportation nationally in 2008, La Crosse area rail supporters agencies and now fully embrace rail as an important already had a history of annual train recognition component of transportation. One of the features of Continued on Page 6

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La Crosse from Page 5 High Speed Plans Attract U.S., Foreign Companies parties, as shown by the “75th Anniversary of the Amtrak announced March 22 that it was Empire Builder”, and the “Celebrate the New reorganizing internally to create a department for Empire Builder” parties in 2004 and 2005. In 2008 High Speed Rail Development in recognition of we were the only Empire Builder city between plans in numerous states for such systems. Chicago and Seattle to observe the day. In 2010 we heartily welcome aboard Milwaukee and Columbus The new department will have as its primary focus and Winona and St. Paul and others to the west who the Boston to Washington North East Corridor, but hosted events! This year’s La Crosse celebration it will also partner with states developing federally- included live music by Dan Eumurian, a local bard designated high speed corridors.

who had a wide collection of rail related ballads, “Amtrak is the unparalleled leader in high-speed and live commentary by Bruce Goeser of Mauston rail operations in America today and we intend to who travels widely on Amtrak and has photos and be a major player in the development and operation videos of the scenery and interior views of train of new corridors,” said Amtrak President and CEO travel. Bruce is also the author of a novel about a Joseph Boardman. “typical trip” on the Empire Builder. The potential for high speed rail development in the The CP Rail Police provided an officer who was U.S. has also grabbed the attention of equipment able to meet one on one with the public about rail manufacturers and system operators in other safety and security. LADCO, not surprisingly, had countries. a display on the Empire Route Coalition, Amtrak provided the cake, juice, and coffee, playing cards, The New York Times reported April 8 that the tote bags, caps and other promotional items, and Chinese government has signed preliminary two round-trip tickets La Crosse-Chicago as a cooperation agreements with the State of California Grand Prize in the drawing. Kwik Trip, our and General Electric to help construct high speed ubiquitous locally-based convenience store chain, rail lines. The agreements show China’s desire to provided cookies and donuts, and other merchants become a big exporter and licensor of bullet trains provided gift cards. The 4000 Foundation, a local traveling 215 miles an hour. rail fan group that is refurbishing a static displayed steam locomotive in a local park had a table of rail China has also expressed interest in financing related clothing and memorabilia for sale. construction of a San Francisco-Los Angeles system. California’s High Speed Rail Authority has As usual, several local elected officials showed up also been approached by Japan, Germany, South and were offered the opportunity to speak. La Korea, Spain, France and Italy. Crosse’s State Rep. Jennifer Shilling had good, supportive words to say, and La Crosse Common On April 22, Japan pledged to financially support Council member Lorraine Decker, a relative the Central Japan Railway Co. and other bullet-train newcomer to politics, offered her supportive makers bidding for U.S. high-speed rail projects to comments. Other La Crosse Council members and help them compete with Chinese firms. Meanwhile, County Board members known to be rail passenger JR Central, the operator of Japan’s busiest bullet- friendly were in attendance, but chose not to speak. train line, has also said that it will bid for projects in The Governor’s race has made an issue of who California and Texas. supports and who doesn’t support “high speed rail” and the absence of some local state elected Foreign firms face a number of hurdles in selling representatives who have previously attended systems here, including domestic content National Train Day was an interesting commentary requirements and labor negotiations, but they in itself, if one chose to read it that way! appear willing to do whatever is necessary to get a -- Bob Fisher, WisARP Secretary toe hold on the developing U.S. market.

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Brookfield or Wauwatosa?

Badger Rails is published 6 times per year by the A movement is forming to relocate the Brookfield Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers, a high speed rail stop five miles east to Wauwatosa. not-for-profit Wisconsin membership association. On May 7, Milwaukee County Clerk (and former

WisARP President is John Parkyn, Stoddard, WI, State Senator) Joe Czarnezki proposed that the stop

(608)788-7004, email: [email protected] be located in western Milwaukee County.

Badger Rails Editor is Jim Sponholz. Please send “A second station should be placed in western comments or news items to: Milwaukee County near the Milwaukee County [email protected] Research Park and the University of Wisconsin-

Milwaukee’s proposed engineering campus, to Please send membership renewals ($15 per year) provide business and university travelers easy and address changes to: Mark Weitenbeck, 3385 S. access to high-speed rail service to Madison,” 119th Street, West Allis, WI 53227 email: [email protected] Czarnezki said.

WisARP on the Web: www.wisarp.org Having two Milwaukee area stations – one

downtown and a second on the Westside – would From the Editor provide greater access to high-speed rail for Milwaukee area businesses and residents, he said. This issue, a “Second Section,” is an old WisARP tradition aimed at getting news out as soon as Czarnezki also suggested eliminating one or both of possible. This means you will receive 7 issues this the proposed Waukesha County stations. year instead of 6. - Jim Sponholz, Editor “Waukesha County officials are on record as Dubuque Train to Stop in Rockford opposed to high-speed rail, apparently because they Trains Newswire reported April 15 that the State of believe their constituents would not use it, so there Illinois has decided to route Amtrak trains bound is no reason to spend tax dollars to construct two for Dubuque, IA, over Union Pacific tracks to stations in Waukesha County,” Czarnezki said. Rockford, Ill., then Canadian National to the west, according to the Elgin Courier-News. The decision Brookfield Mayor Steve Ponto, elected to office last comes after three years of wrangling over a routing April, was quoted during the campaign as calling for the new train. the Madison train a waste of government spending and saying he was not convinced the rail line will Under the State's plan, trains will use Metra's provide a big boost to the local economy. Milwaukee District West line, which becomes Canadian Pacific/Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern, to “As a fiscal conservative, I do not support the reach Elgin. From there, trains will switch to UP federal government spending money it has to rails to Rockford (17 miles from Wisconsin), then borrow on projects, such as high-speed rail,” Ponto use CN west. The route had been contentious, with told BrookfieldNOW March 2. “Having a station in cities on competing routes lobbying for the service. Brookfield depends on factors not currently known. Will sufficient federal funds be available to An Illinois Department of Transportation construct and maintain the contemplated train spokeswoman said Gov. Pat Quinn picked the route station, train platform and parking lot? What will be for the State-supported service. It'll necessitate a the benefits to the city? Much will depend on new connection track at Elgin, plus upgrades to negotiations between the city and other levels of UP's line. The Dubuque train will offer additional government that have not even begun.” choices to residents of the southwest corner of Wisconsin. It is not immediately known when New Oconomowoc Mayor Jim Daley, a former staff service will actually begin. Continued on Page 8

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Brookfield from Page 7 member for U.S. Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, was executive assistant to WisDOT Secretary Frank quoted during the campaign as saying, "I'm not anti- Busalacchi. Klein was quoted in The Daily Reporter rail, but I just think ridership is the primary concern. May 10 as stating that adding more stations is The idea of just throwing money at a project counter to the line’s intended purpose of being a without taking responsibility is irresponsible." high-speed connection between major cities.

Milwaukee Alderman Bob Bauman, a rail advocate, Klein said he does not know if the Federal Railroad cited those views May 12 as a good reason to move Administration, which is funding the high-speed rail the stop. “Why put a station in a community that project, would consider changing station locations. objects to the entire idea of rail passenger service?” “We submitted our plan with the station locations to Bauman asked. “The answer - don’t.” FRA,” Klein said, “and were awarded a grant based on those locations.” Bauman said a Wauwatosa station would generate more riders than Brookfield due to higher Klein and Wauwatosa officials said they were not population densities. He likened the location to familiar with any state studies of a potential station Milwaukee’s popular Mitchell Airport stop, which in Wauwatosa. he said draws more riders from the surrounding neighborhoods than from airport users. Bob Duffy, Oconomowoc director of economic development, said that it was too late for However, the Wisconsin Department of Wauwatosa to be considered. Oconomowoc Transportation is not adding more stations to the officials have been working for years on Madison-to-Milwaukee route, said Chris Klein, establishing a stop in their community.

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