'No state funding': Vos voices opposition to Amtrak expansion proposal

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Plans for a possible Amtrak expansion to Madison are in its early stages, but there could be some roadblocks down the road after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said he does not support providing state funding for the project.

"No state funding," Vos said Friday when asked during a Wisconsin Policy Forum about whether he supports creating a train line from Madison to Milwaukee.

Madison is working to secure funding from the bipartisan infrastructure package passed by Congress last year, which includes a program to spend $66 billion over the next five years on passenger rail services and expansion.

Currently there are no estimates for how much the Amtrak project would cost, but Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said earlier this week securing state and federal funding would ideal.

Former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, who in 2010 pursued adding new trains to the existing Milwaukee to Chicago Hiawatha line, tells CBS 58 it's "foolish" for Republicans to express opposition to the project.

"It's ridiculous," Doyle said. "This is where the world is moving towards -- having good rail service. I've heard from so many people that boy, they wish they could get on a train."

Tom Lynch, director of transportation for the City of Madison, said the first phases of the Amtrak project will not require state funding.

"We look forward to developing partnerships that can help make Wisconsin Amtrak a reality," Lynch said in a statement.
It remains to be seen if the state will play a role in the near future. For example, if the project needs additional funding, lawmakers might have to step in.

"They have an opportunity to make some really significant investments in Wisconsin that will pay off for years to come so there's a long way to go," Doyle said. "I've been through this process so many times it's a long way to go to the people making their pronouncements of what they are going to do and not do."

Former Gov. Scott Walker, who famously rejected $810 million in federal funding for a high-speed rail line in 2011, called the effort to bring passenger rail "stupid" in a tweet Wednesday.

Madison is exploring six potential locations for a new Amtrak station.

Selecting a site doesn't guarantee a deal with Amtrak, but officials said it puts the city in a better position once federal funding is allocated.