The federal government has made a major commitment to commuter rail in southern Wisconsin. Last week, Washington announced plans to pour more than $800 million into high speed trains that would shuttle people between Milwaukee and Madison. Currently, the Hiawatha line runs between Chicago and Milwaukee. The expanded rail would make at least three stops along the way to Madison. WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson checked with a couple mayors whose cities are on the list.
The first stop out of Milwaukee could be Brookfield. Mayor Jeff Speaker says his city does not have an existing train depot that would meet standards, so the community would have to start from scratch. He says the city is currently looking at a site on Brookfield Road, a few miles north of I-94.
“What we would have to do is have a location, buy the land and then go and build the station,” Speaker says.
Speaker says the state and federal governments would provide most of the money to build the station, but the city would have to come up with some funds. The mayor says that should spark a healthy debate before the city council.
“I believe that if the Common Council does not feel it’s in the best interest of the city of Brookfield, I don’t think they’ll force a stop on us. But, they will look at it. There will be some deliberations and we’ll go from there and a decision will be made,” Speaker says.
Another planned stop for the high speed commuter train is Watertown. Mayor Ron Krueger says for years, he’s been talking with mayors from Chicago to the Twin Cities about expanding the current Amtrak line that runs through Watertown. As for a depot, he says his city has been eyeing a former Pick ‘N’ Save Supermarket near downtown to convert.
“We have talked with the owners. We have had preliminary discussions on purchasing, demolition and reconstruction of the new depot. We’ve already got a prospective developer on board who’d like to create some apartment housing near the site. We’re looking at some brown field grants to clean up an industrial area directly across the tracks,” Krueger says.
Krueger says Watertown would be the ideal location for a stop on the rail line because it’s located halfway between Milwaukee and Madison.
He says plenty of residents would use the train.
“There are probably hundreds. We’re a population of a little over 23,000. Many families locate here because one spouse works in Madison, the other works in the Milwaukee area. I do not have an exact figure but it’s substantial,” Krueger says.
Krueger says the Watertown Common Council has voted to support the project. Now, the city is waiting for further instructions from the state and federal governments.
Like Brookfield’s mayor, Krueger is wondering how much money Watertown would have to cough up for the plan. He doesn’t know if the city can afford the several million dollars that might be needed, so he’s been in discussions with the governor’s office.
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