Eau Claire, Wis. – Passenger rail development in western Wisconsin and its relationship to a statewide project connecting Chicago, Milwaukee and the Twin Cities will be the topic of “The West Side” at 10 a.m. Friday, May 14 on The Ideas Network stations of Wisconsin Public Radio: 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls.

Host Clara Neupert welcomes Scott Rogers, vice president of Governmental Affairs at the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and chair of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition, and Mark Quam, president of the Chippewa Valley Transit Alliance and secretary/acting treasurer of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition, to talk about the push for a new passenger rail line that would connect Chicago to the Twin Cities as well as a second passenger rail project in western Wisconsin.

“The West Side” is broadcast each Friday at 10 a.m. on The Ideas Network stations 88.3/Menomonie-Eau Claire and 88.7/River Falls and live streamed at wrfw887.com/listen-live.html.Listeners may call in with questions and comments during the program at (800) 228-5615, or email the show at ideas@wpr.org. Archives of “The West Side” are available at wpr.org/programs/west-side.