Through an agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), Amtrak, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Minnesota DOT and Illinois DOT were able to begin Borealis service on the 411-mile corridor between Chicago, Illinois, Milwaukee, and St. Paul, Minnesota on May 21, 2024. The agreement allowed the Borealis to begin service as the infrastructure improvements specified below proceed.
The partners on this project include:
- Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois Departments of Transportation
- Amtrak
- Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC)
- Federal Railroad Administration
- La Crosse Area Planning Committee
- Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority
Public engagement
Design Phase
The TCMC is in the final design phase for the railroad infrastructure improvements.
Public meetings (Archived documents)
- TCMC
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La Crosse At-Grade Crossings
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December 13, 2023 - Public Information Meeting (La Crosse/Virtual)
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July 10, 2024 - Public Information Meeting #2
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October
2024
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At the July 2024 public information meeting for the at-grade crossings at Hagar/Avon Streets and St. Cloud/Liberty Streets, WisDOT proposed an 8-gate solution at one or both intersections. The purpose of these gates is to improve the safety and efficiency of the crossing and accommodate additional passenger rail service.
In this setting, the 8-gate solution would represent a unique approach. As WisDOT analyzed the operational and engineering considerations, some concerns have arisen regarding the safe and reliable operation of the 8-gate solution with traffic movements. If these concerns cannot be addressed, WisDOT will pursue other solutions to improve the safety and efficiency of the crossing, including an extension of the medians already in existence on the roadways.
WisDOT’s preferred solution will move forward to the OCR petition process.
Planning Phase (Archived documents)
Project description (Archived documents)
The $53 million TCMC Project will improve mobility and increase reliable travel options between the Midwest economic hubs of St. Paul, Minnesota, La Crosse and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Chicago, Illinois.
The additional daily intercity passenger rail round-trip will integrate with the existing Hiawatha Service schedule. The additional frequency will also facilitate existing and planned intercity bus and shuttle connections to communities located off the rail corridor.
Required railroad infrastructure improvements
- La Crosse Yard and Depot Area Improvements (La Crosse, WI) - Rebuild second mainline track, extend yard lead to the west, and reconstruct passenger platform
- Mississippi River Bridge (La Crescent, MN) - Realign track approaches, replace switches and track work
- River Junction Yard Improvements (La Crescent, MN) - Conversion of yard track to signalized 2nd main track, including signal improvements, new mainline track, turnouts, and connection track, and an upgrade to existing yard track
- Winona Siding Improvements (Winona, MN) - Upgrade siding track, switches, and signals
- Tower CK (Winona, MN) - Construct new siding track connecting main track to CPKC Waseca subdivision, and add switches and signals
Project funding
- $31.8 million Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Consolidated Railroad Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) grant was awarded in September 2020 for final design and construction of required railroad improvements to implement TCMC passenger trains. Amtrak has committed $5 million in funding. An additional $16.2 million in state match dollars are needed:
- Wisconsin - $6.2 million
- Minnesota - $10 million
- $12.6 million Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Restoration & Enhancement Program grant was awarded in May 2020 to offset cost of operations for the first three years.
Location
The Borealis service follows Amtrak's long-distance Empire Builder route between Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul. The stops include:
- Chicago Union Station
- Glenview, Illinois
- Sturtevant, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee Airport Rail Station
- Milwaukee Intermodal Station
- Columbus, Wisconsin
- Portage, Wisconsin
- Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
- Tomah, Wisconsin
- La Crosse, Wisconsin
- Winona, Minnesota
- Red Wing, Minnesota
- St. Paul Union Depot
The service uses Metra, Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC), and Union Pacific (UP) right of way and tracks.
Related information
Contacts
Rich Kedzior
Passenger Rail Program Manager
Railroads and Harbors Section, WisDOT
(608) 266-7094
richard.kedzior@dot.wi.gov
Greg Mathis
State Planning Director
Passenger Rail, MnDOT
(651) 366-4292
greg.mathis@state.mn.us