Posted on 04/27/2003 11:13:25 AM PDT by republicandiva
Public Hearings have begun on a proposed extension of Metra (commuter rail) services to facilitate the entire Chicago to Milwaukee corridor. Metra currently stops in Kenosha, WI, approximately 40 miles south of Milwaukee.
Estimated costs are $152 million start-up (80% federal, 20% state and local funding) and approx. $15 million/annual additional subsidy to cover expenses over and above revenue from fares. Best estimates are a couple hundred commuters from each added location will use the Metra on a daily basis, with a possible 1,000,000 annual ridership by the year 2020!
Two primary driving forces behind the groundswell in this area are local and statewide environmentalists (who are also trying to prevent expansion of the I-94 freeway system) and S.C.Johnson & Son, Inc. (located in Racine) who claims they need commuter rail to be more marketable to executives from the Chicago and/or Milwaukee areas.
The eventual destination in Milwaukee is at least 1/2 miles from the fringe of the business district in downtown Milwaukee, necessitating either additional subsidies for increased bus service, or taxi service.
There is already an existing Amtrak service from Milwaukee to Chicago!
Need your help in FREEPING THIS POLL...the poll will shut down at about noon on 4-28...MANY THANKS
Should Commuter Rail be Extended?
We've already experimented with local train service up here when I-94 between Milwaukee and the edge of Waukesha (the busiest stretch of freeway in Wisconsin) was being resurfaced (extended the Hiawatha run to Watertown as a sop to Tommy "Train" Thompson). That was an abysmal failure despite heavy publicity and unprecedented Chicago-like travel times.
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