Hiawatha West Draws Federal Funding Toward Madison

Published: November 4, 2026

MILWAUKEE — Amtrak on October 22 welcomed the Federal Railroad Administration’s selection of Hiawatha West for Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements funding. The award advances an extension of Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha service west into Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane counties, including Madison, Watertown, and Pewaukee. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Amtrak are developing the project with the host railroads, CPKC and the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, a Watco property. The same track work is meant to benefit the Borealis and the Empire Builder as well.

Downtown Madison and the Wisconsin State Capitol at dusk. Amtrak published this photograph with the October 22 Hiawatha West announcement. Amtrak photo.

What Amtrak said the selection does

“This award is a major step toward bringing the convenience and connectivity of the Hiawatha service to more Wisconsin communities,” said Jennifer Mitchell, Amtrak executive vice president of strategy and planning. “We appreciate the support of the USDOT and FRA, along with the collaboration of all our partners and communities helping to move this project forward. Together, we are advancing a project that will improve rail infrastructure, strengthen the regional economy and give more people a safe, reliable and convenient way to travel.”

Amtrak said that once the service is running it is expected to add about 278,000 riders a year, about $46 million a year in regional economic benefits, and about 200 permanent jobs tied to the passenger operation. The October 22 announcement leaves the grant dollar to the earlier Wisconsin account.

Over $218 million, from October 16

On October 16, Gov. Tony Evers and U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin announced that Wisconsin had secured over $218 million for the expansion. That figure is theirs. The bulletin headline rounds the same award to $218 million. The body says over $218 million, and this article follows the body.

The October 16 account says the grant will rehabilitate and expand the capacity of track, bridges, and crossings, and will build new intercity passenger stations. Farther down, the same release says the extension largely uses existing infrastructure. The money funds bridge rehabilitation, track and crossing upgrades, and ADA-accessible temporary station platforms in Madison, Watertown, and Pewaukee. The benefits list on that page includes an estimated 200 permanent jobs and about $46 million in annual economic benefits, the same two scales Amtrak repeated on October 22. The rider count of about 278,000 is the Amtrak figure.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation case for taking the Hiawatha on to Madison is already on this site, in Wisconsin DOT Aims For Amtrak Hiawatha Expansion To Madison. This report covers the October award.

Sources

Amtrak media release, October 22, 2026, Milwaukee. FRA selection of Hiawatha West for CRISI funding. Extension of Chicago-Milwaukee Hiawatha service west to Waukesha, Jefferson, and Dane counties, including Madison, Watertown, and Pewaukee. Host railroads CPKC and Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (Watco). Improvements also benefit Borealis and Empire Builder trains. Jennifer Mitchell quote. Once implemented: about 278,000 additional annual riders, about $46 million in annual regional economic benefits, and about 200 permanent jobs. The Madison dusk photograph is the image published with the release.
Office of the Governor of Wisconsin, bulletin 42f6ef7, for immediate release October 16, 2026, sent at 12:13 p.m. CDT. Body: successfully secured over $218 million. Headline: $218 million. CRISI funds to rehabilitate and expand track, bridges, and crossings, and to construct new intercity passenger stations. Extension largely uses existing infrastructure. Bridge rehabilitations, track and crossing upgrades, and ADA-accessible temporary station platforms in Madison, Watertown, and Pewaukee. Estimated 200 permanent jobs and about $46 million in annual economic benefits.

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Hiawatha West Draws Federal Funding Toward Madison

What Amtrak said the selection does

Over $218 million, from October 16

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Sources