Passenger rail service meeting set in Hudson

The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition is hosting an informational program about the future of passenger rail service in the Chippewa Valley and West Central Wisconsin on Friday, April 18, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1500 Vine St. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m., with registration at 8 a.m. The keynote speaker is Randy Wade, passenger rail manager with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

Wade will present information on the National Surface Transportation Policy & Revenue Study Commission, whose report to Congress earlier this year provide direction for the next major surface transportation authorization bill. In addition, he will provide an update on the States for Passenger Rail Coalition, an alliance of 31 states supporting intercity passenger rail initiatives and advocating for a federal funding mechanism.

Following Wade’s address, panel participants will provide a regional update on rail passenger and transit developments in Wisconsin and Minnesota including transit funding in Minnesota’s recently enacted transportation bill, the proposed St. Paul-Minneapolis Central Corridor Light Rail, St. Paul Union Depot redevelopment, emerging interest in east metro transportation corridors, Wisconsin’s Milwaukee-Chicago Amtrak service, the new Milwaukee Intermodal Station, status of the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, and an update on local West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition. Panel participants include: