MILWAUKEE, WI — The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) joined the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for an event in Milwaukee to celebrate a federal investment that will help shape the future of freight and passenger rail services in Wisconsin. WisDOT will receive a $72.8 million grant from the FRA for the Muskego Freight Rail Yard Bypass Project to reconfigure existing track and yard facilities along the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Railway (CPKC) corridor in Milwaukee.
Federal, state, and local officials visited the Milwaukee Intermodal Station to recognize the significance of this grant and the impact it will make in Wisconsin. FRA Administrator Amit Bose spoke about the project’s merit and how it is a lynchpin project for future rail growth in the state.
“Under the Biden-Harris Administration and through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, FRA has announced funding for nearly 300 rail projects nationwide, and we are proud of multiple grants going to the state of Wisconsin,” Bose said. “With CRISI funding for the Muskego Yard Bypass Project, freight and passenger trains will move faster through Milwaukee. Improvements will strengthen supply chains and minimize congestion and delays for passengers who rely on multiple Amtrak routes through Milwaukee. At the same time, improvements will help to lay a foundation for potential new and expanded passenger service benefiting the State of Wisconsin. FRA looks forward to our continued partnership with WisDOT, Amtrak, and others to further improve and expand rail in Wisconsin and beyond.”
The FRA awarded this grant through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program, which is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). This is the largest non-highway grant WisDOT has received to date through the BIL.
The project establishes a new double-track mainline through Muskego Yard, minimizing passenger and freight train delays and improving safety. It also opens the door for the expansion of passenger rail services throughout the state.
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“The Muskego Yard project is instrumental in our goal to deliver a comprehensive freight and passenger rail system in Wisconsin,” Deputy Secretary Scott Lawry said. “This investment allows WisDOT to support potential new and expanded passenger rail services, while continuing to support the freight industry so we can keep our economy moving safely and efficiently.”
The planned route change allows freight trains to bypass the Milwaukee Intermodal Station, reducing congestion and delays at the station. It will decrease the number of trains crossing busy streets in Milwaukee, to reduce traffic wait times and the risk of pedestrian incidents.
The project allows Wisconsin to expand passenger rail services on the popular Hiawatha route between Milwaukee and Chicago, Illinois. WisDOT can now support up to 10 daily round trips, allowing more customers to use this high-demand service.
Wisconsin’s partnership with CPKC will help WisDOT improve the Hiawatha and Borealis services. Amtrak will provide $7 million in matching funds.
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“Amtrak contributed a $7 million match toward this CRISI grant to improve the movement of rail traffic through downtown Milwaukee,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said. “The project will create a bypass for freight traffic through the Muskego Yard, reducing congestion and conflicts between freight traffic and our three popular routes serving Milwaukee: The Hiawatha, Borealis, and Empire Builder. When the freight yard work is done, there will be increased capacity here at this station for more Amtrak trains.”
The upgrades are critical to the success of four proposed passenger rail corridors being studied now through the FRA’s Corridor ID program. WisDOT is assessing the feasibility of bringing new or enhanced passenger rail service to Wisconsin communities such as Green Bay, Eau Claire, and Madison, connecting with the Milwaukee Intermodal Station.
