Wisconsin Secures $218M for Planned Amtrak Extension

Wisconsin has secured more than $218 million in federal funding for final design and construction of Amtrak’s Hiawatha West project, extending service from the existing Chicago–Milwaukee route toward Madison, with proposed stops in Pewaukee and Watertown. The funding will support upgrades to tracks, bridges and crossings, as well as new passenger stations, and is also expected to improve freight rail safety and reliability. State officials say the project could create 200 permanent jobs and generate about $46 million in annual economic benefits. The federal grant covers most, but not all, of the project’s estimated construction cost; Wisconsin will need to provide a state share and ongoing operating funds, and the service could begin as soon as 2030.