By Barb Thoman
Amtrak passenger rail service is affordable and energy-efficient. Photo by Barb Thoman.
It is crunch time for a proposed second daily train between the Twin Cities and Chicago. The legislature must act this session and your call or email could make the difference.
The federal government believes in this project - pledging $32 million to Minnesota, contingent on the state providing $10 million in matching funds. The money would pay for new track and improvements to bridges, switching, and stations. Service could begin as early as 2023!
Map: Great River Rail Commission
This new train would stop in Red Wing, Winona, La Crosse, Milwaukee – the same stops made by the Empire Builder between the Twin Cities and Chicago. Second train service to Chicago would be reliable, as trains would not be crossing two mountain ranges in the west.
Like all Amtrak service, it would be affordable, energy-efficient, roomy, and with ample space for luggage (and even a bicycle).
I ride Amtrak to visit friends in Winona and my brothers in Michigan. Michigan has been a funding partner with Amtrak for more than a decade. That state had been upgrading track, improving stations, and supporting daily trains. There are three Amtrak routes in Michigan. The Wolverine route that I ride to Kalamazoo has several trips per day between Chicago and Detroit.
It's time for Minnesota to get on board. Wisconsin has already provided its state match for the second train to Chicago. Now it’s our turn!
TAKE ACTION: Please phone and/or email your State Representative, Senator, and the Governor now, before it’s too late.
Making your voice heard is as Easy as 1—2– 3:
1) Call Governor Walz: 651-201-3400 and thank him for supporting $10 million to leverage $32 million in federal funding for a second train to Chicago.
2) Ask your State Representative to support House File 1251 to provide $10 million to leverage $32 million in federal funding for a second train to Chicago.
3) Ask your State Senator to support Senate File 1962 to provide $160 million for the second train to Chicago and service all corridors in the state rail plan: Moorhead, Mankato, Duluth and Albert Lea.
What to say: “My name is _____ and I live _______. Please support a state match to secure federal funding for a second train to Chicago. [Say why this is important to you]. Thank you.”
Bonus Action: Support the second train by leaving a comment here.
More info at www.allaboardmn.org.
I hope you will join me in taking action to get better passenger rail service!
Barb Thoman is a Sierra Club volunteer leader with the North Star Chapter Land Use and Transportation Team.