A newly formed coalition of passenger rail associations and advocacy groups gathered Tuesday to promote Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposal, which includes funding to expand passenger rail service and increase train frequencies in Wisconsin.
Representatives from four passenger rail associations, along with two additional advocacy units, convened to support the state’s investment in rail infrastructure. The event featured speakers from multiple organizations, including the High Speed Rail Alliance, West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition and All Aboard Wisconsin.
Chris Ott, deputy director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, emphasized the importance of passenger rail in providing economic opportunities, reducing road congestion and improving transportation accessibility. Ott pointed to recent remarks by U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has called for infrastructure investment to be a nonpartisan priority.
“Passenger rail benefits everyone—whether you’re on the train or not,” Ott said. “A million people used Wisconsin’s eight Amtrak stations last year, reducing highway congestion and bringing economic benefits to local communities.”
Currently, Amtrak operates routes serving Sturtevant, Milwaukee Airport, Milwaukee Intermodal, Columbus, Portage, Wisconsin Dells, Tomah and La Crosse. The Borealis train, which launched last year, has already demonstrated strong ridership with over 160,000 passengers since May.
Ott noted the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), with federal support, is considering expanding rail service to Green Bay, Madison, Eau Claire and other underserved communities.
Mark Quam, representing the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition, spoke of efforts to develop a passenger rail corridor between Eau Claire, Menomonie and the Twin Cities. The coalition secured a federal Corridor Identification and Development grant and has formed a governmental entity, the St. Croix Rail Commission, to advance the project.
“Grassroots organizations working together is the key to making passenger rail effective in the Midwest,” Quam said. “Today is a major step in that direction.”
Nona Hill, president of All Aboard Wisconsin, reflected on the state’s long history with rail advocacy and cited the success of the Borealis service as evidence that Wisconsinites are eager for expanded rail options.
“By the end of January, the Borealis had far exceeded expectations,” Hill said. “This train is not just for people traveling between Chicago and the Twin Cities — it’s for Wisconsinites who rely on it at every station along the way.”
Evers has proposed $5 million for passenger rail expansion in the 2025-26 fiscal year and $10 million in 2026-27. While uncertainty remains around federal funding, the rail advocates argued that Wisconsin must be prepared to move forward independently if necessary.
“We spend billions on highways each year,” Ott said. “Investing in rail is not just reasonable—it’s essential.”
The coalition urged state lawmakers to support the budget proposal and called for broader investments in Wisconsin’s passenger rail network.
