I attended the Fall WisARP meeting today in Milwaukee. Here are a few items that were mentioned that might be of interest to some:
The WI Secy of Transp Mark Gottlieb spoke, and he stated that the construction of the trainshed/platform at MKE should begin "this fall" - it had been expected to begin this last summer, but delays due to difficulty with CP put it back a few months. He expected the improvements to be completed in Winter 2015-2016. I could not get much more information from him, regarding specific platform configurations or whatnot, though.
Gottlieb mentioned that the Environmental Assessment for CHI-MKE improvements (higher speeds, faster travel times, 10 R/Ts) should be completed in Spring 2015. That is a WisDOT-led project. The MnDOT-led study of an additional CHI-MSP train should be finished this winter (2014-2015), and has estimated ridership in the 118,000-156,000 range depending upon the specifics. The additional round trip, which will likely require at least some infrastructure improvements (new or extended sidings, etc.), would likely depart CHI in the morning and MSP in the afternoon.
Gottlieb also stated that it was "a good possibility" that additional bilevel cars would be ordered to re-equip (or, I suppose, augment existing equipment on) the Hiawathas, but there was nothing concrete that he could relate at this point.
We also had the privilege of listening to a rambling, anti-Joe Boardman diatribe from Don Phillips. Early on, Phillips claimed that he has information that cuts have caused Auto Train ridership to drop 20% (which, best as I can tell, is not backed up by any available information). After that point, I didn't listen all that closely to the rest of his speech.
The WI Secy of Transp Mark Gottlieb spoke, and he stated that the construction of the trainshed/platform at MKE should begin "this fall" - it had been expected to begin this last summer, but delays due to difficulty with CP put it back a few months. He expected the improvements to be completed in Winter 2015-2016. I could not get much more information from him, regarding specific platform configurations or whatnot, though.
Gottlieb mentioned that the Environmental Assessment for CHI-MKE improvements (higher speeds, faster travel times, 10 R/Ts) should be completed in Spring 2015. That is a WisDOT-led project. The MnDOT-led study of an additional CHI-MSP train should be finished this winter (2014-2015), and has estimated ridership in the 118,000-156,000 range depending upon the specifics. The additional round trip, which will likely require at least some infrastructure improvements (new or extended sidings, etc.), would likely depart CHI in the morning and MSP in the afternoon.
Gottlieb also stated that it was "a good possibility" that additional bilevel cars would be ordered to re-equip (or, I suppose, augment existing equipment on) the Hiawathas, but there was nothing concrete that he could relate at this point.
We also had the privilege of listening to a rambling, anti-Joe Boardman diatribe from Don Phillips. Early on, Phillips claimed that he has information that cuts have caused Auto Train ridership to drop 20% (which, best as I can tell, is not backed up by any available information). After that point, I didn't listen all that closely to the rest of his speech.