KAUKAUNA — Kaukauna Mayor Tony Penterman has signed on to a letter, along with six other Fox Valley city leaders, to push for an expansion of Amtrak’s passenger rail service up to Green Bay.
The recently enacted federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act created an initiative for Amtrak to identify and develop new corridors, and Amtrak has proposed three daily round-trips from Chicago to Green Bay with its Hiawatha line, which currently connects Chicago and Milwaukee.
“This extension of Amtrak’s passenger rail service would allow for residents from Green Bay and the Greater Fox Valley Region travelling to Milwaukee or Chicago a safer alternative to an already congested I-41 highway system,” Penterman said.
Green Bay, Appleton, Oshkosh and Fond du Lac would have new stations along the proposed route.
Up through at least the 1960s, residents could take the train from Kaukauna to Milwaukee and beyond from the depot on Draper Street, but service was discontinued decades ago.
“All seven cities along this corridor that would be served by the Hiawatha Extension strongly advocate for
incorporating the project in the Corridor Identification and Development program,” read the letter. “We strongly believe that this corridor satisfies the Selection Criteria outlined in the Federal Register Notice.”
The letter was also signed by Appleton Mayor Jacob Woodford, Oshkosh Mayor Lori Palmeri, Fond du Lac City Manager Joseph Moore, Neenah Mayor Jane Lang, Menasha Mayor Donald Merkes and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich.
The Green Bay — Milwaukee — Chicago corridor would connect important metropolitan areas in the Midwest with a variety of business and educational opportunities. The corridor is currently served by Amtrak’s long-distance Empire Builder service, operating between Chicago, Seattle, and Portland, OR.
According to Amtrak, Green Bay added 10,493 jobs since 2000. The city is home to a variety of business headquarters including Bellin Health, Aurora Health Care, Georgia-Pacific, American Foods Group, JBS Green Bay, Wisconsin Public Service, Schreiber Foods, Inc., Proctor & Gamble, Alorica and Nature’s Way.
The National Railroad Museum, Bay Beach Amusement Park, Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary and the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field all attract visitors to the city.
Milwaukee added 40,000 jobs to their economy since 2000 and is home to 14 Fortune 1,000 corporations, more than most other metropolitan areas its size. Harley-Davidson, Northwestern Mutual, and Roundy’s Supermarkets are just some of the companies located in the city. The Milwaukee Art Museum, Harley-Davidson Museum, Milwaukee County Zoo and Potawatomi Hotel and Casino each draw visitors to the area.
Chicago is one of the largest cultural, recreational and business destinations in the Midwest. Attractions such as the Field Museum, The Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, Soldier Field, Wrigley Field and Lake Michigan’s beaches attracted a record-breaking 57.6 million visitors in 2018. The city is home to Boeing, Archer Daniels Midland, Exelon, Conagra Brands, Motorola Solutions and more.
These new rail connections between larger metro areas and smaller cities will improve mobility for underserved communities and provide reliable and efficient transportation to education and employment opportunities along the route.
Proposed Stations
- Chicago, IL
- Glenview, IL
- Sturtevant, WI
- Milwaukee Airport, WI
- Milwaukee, WI
- Fond Du Lac, WI (NEW)
- Oshkosh, WI (NEW)
- Appleton, WI (NEW)
- Green Bay, WI (NEW)
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