WXOW News 19 La Crosse, WI – News, Weather and Sports |Locals show support for high speed rail through La Crosse
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LA CROSSE, Wisconsin (WXOW) -- Mark Clements waits to hitch a ride to Milwaukee.
"I think this is a good place for the train to go through," Clements says.
Mark and others join the Empire Builder High Speed Rail coalition in a trip to Milwaukee to watch an NBA basketball game.
It's an effort to show support for the Empire Builder Route through La Crosse.
The coalition is a group that's been lobbying for a high speed rail line through the city, but other lines have also been proposed, like the one through Eau Claire.
"The high speed rail plan we have supported from day one has rail service through La Crosse to St. Paul, and then St. Paul to Eau Claire," says Executive Director of La Crosse Area Development Inc.
Supporters of a La Crosse line say it would be beneficial and cheaper for a few reasons:
First, the line already exists and is set for freight and passenger rail.
Second, the coalition says the rail would boost local economies by bringing people in for business and recreation.
And third, the Federal government pays 80% of the project, and the state pays the rest, so La Crosse County Administrator Steve O'Malley says going through La Crosse helps split that bill with Minnesota more evenly.
"We believe again, ours is going to be most cost effective, and it's going to share the cost more equally between Wisconsin and Minnesota," O'Malley says.
Whether the line ends up going through La Crosse or Eau Claire, riders agree the Amtrak service is more useful than ever.
"It's more affordable and convenient. You know, it's one way. You're down there. You don't have to deal with toll ways and the excessive interstate travel," says passenger Sarah Juracich.
For Mark, it's an overlooked and underutilized mode of transportation that he'll enjoy along the ride to Milwaukee.
The coalition says demand for the Amtrak service in La Crosse has gone up and that high speed rail would give people more options.
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