RAIL COALITION MEETINGS
The Coalition meets on the third Thursday of each month, from 8:00-9:00 AM. Currently, meetings are being held virtually on Zoom. Meetings are open to the general public, but Zoom requires pre-registration.
RECENT MEETINGS
JANUARY, 2024 ANNUAL MEETING:
Part One: Jennifer Murray from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, talks about plans to expand passenger train service in Wisconsin, utilizing grants money awarded to the state in December, 2023.
Also- Coalition Chair Scott Rogers updates the membership on next steps required to bring passenger trains back to West Central Wisconsin:
https://youtu.be/sfR9jfjTkAw?feature=shared
Part Two: Kevin Roggenbuck, from the Ramsey County, Minnesota Regional Railroad Authority, discusses plans for Union Station in St. Paul and how it will impact future train service to/from western Wisconsin.
Also- Dan Bucks from Montana's Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, briefs coalition members on plans to expand passenger train service through Montana, potentially extending a route through Wisconsin:
https://youtu.be/BfIq782BsAI?feature=shared
Part Three: Derrick James from Amtrak discusses their plans to expand passenger train service through Wisconsin and other states, utilizing money allocated from the recently-passed federal infrastructure law.
Also- Joe Aiello from the Rail Passengers Association explains what citizens can do to encourage federal and state funding for passenger trains:
https://youtu.be/mlkbnMIBRl8?feature=shared
Part Four: The Rail Coalition’s annual business meeting, including election of officers:
MAY, 2023 MEETING:
Coalition chairman Scott Rogers updates members on the recent release of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s news state rail plan, which includes expanding service to Eau Claire, Green Bay and Madison.
JANUARY, 2023 MEETING:
Part One: Chairman Scott Rogers provides an overview of recent activities, including the application for federal funds under the 2022 Infrastructure law; Ray Chambers and Mason Baxter from the Association of Independent Passenger Rail Operators, explain the role private contractors could play in operating local trains.
Part Two: Lisa Stern from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation updates the group on WisDOT's role in expanding passenger rail options in the state.
Part Three:
Arun Rau discusses Amtrak's plans to expand passenger rail options in Wisconsin.
Part Four:
Rick Harnish from the High Speed Rail Alliance, explains the benefits of a modern, robust, national passenger train system and the keys to making it succeed.
Part Five:
Election of Coalition board members, other Coalition business.
DECEMBER, 2022 MEETING:
Chairman Scott Rogers provides updates on several. initiatives aimed at restoring passenger train service to communities in West Central Wisconsin, including Eau Claire, Menomonie, Baldwin and Hudson.
OCTOBER, 2022 MEETING:
Special guest Rick Sense, VP of Development & Government Relations for the Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, discusses efforts to build support. for expanded rail service within Wisconsin’s business community.
SEPTEMBER, 2022 MEETING:
Chairman. Scott Rogers updates members on the latest plans to restore passenger train service to Eau Claire, Dunn and St. Croix Counties, and what the new Rail Commission, authorized by those counties, is doing to secure funding from the federal government.
AUGUST, 2022 MEETING:
A look at the latest developments in advancing passenger train service for Western Wisconsin: how the new federal infrastructure law might help, and what’s being done to secure funding. https://youtu.be/cUWo-tejFT0
MAY, 2022 MEETING:
Chairman Scott Rogers shares new information on plans to expand passenger rail service in Wisconsin, and how recent legislation might impact those plans.
APRIL, 2022 MEETING:
Chairman Scott Rogers updates the members on recent events that could lead to expanded passenger train service for Western Wisconsin residents:
MARCH, 2022 MEETING:
Rick Harnish, Executive Director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, discusses the current state of rail expansion plans in Washington and the timeline for new passenger train service.
FEBRUARY, 2022 MEETING:
WCWRC Chairman Scott Rogers updated the membership on recent activities at the February meeting, along with a discussion of future opportunities for expanded passenger rail service in Wisconsin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEtKPTaK5Go
JANUARY, 2022 MEETING:
At our annual meeting in January, Arun Rao, the Wisconsin DOT Passenger Train Manager, updated the group on plans to expand access to passenger rail service in Wisconsin
DECEMBER, 2021 MEETING:
At the December meeting, Derrick James, Senior Manager of Government Affairs for Amtrak, discussed how the recent passage of the federal government infrastructure bill might impact efforts to expand passenger rail serviced in Wisconsin.
NOVEMBER, 2021 MEETING:
WCWRC chair Scott Rogers discusses recent federal legislation and how it might impact efforts to bring passenger train service back to West Central Wisconsin. https://youtu.be/P2zqAJBGmjE
SEPTEMBER, 2021 MEETING:
Rick Harnish, Executive Director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, discusses current efforts in Washington to secure increased funding for expanding passenger train service and how it might impact the Chippewa Valley. https://youtu.be/NoRjzPHuEvo
JULY, 2021 MEETING:
Jim Coston, the CEO of Corridor Rail Development, updates the Coalition on plans to launch a new passenger train service between Eau Claire and the Twin Cities. And Coalition chair Scott Rogers discusses efforts at the state and federal level to expand passenger rail service. Watch a replay of the meeting here: https://youtu.be/ht0DDhLQgSQ
MAY, 2021 MEETING:
Jim Mathews, the president and C.E.O. of the national Rail Passengers Association, was the guest speaker at the May meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition on Thursday, May 20th. He talked with members about strategies for getting federal assistance to expand rail service. Watch the replay of the meeting here: https://youtu.be/0iWjdmLOzgk
APRIL, 2021 MEETING:
Arun Rao of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, talked about plans to enhance and expand passenger train options in the Badger State during the April 15th meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition. Watch a replay of the meeting here: https://youtu.be/98Jyd9hmyd4
March, 2021 Meeting:
John Robert Smith, Chairman of Transportation for America, was the featured speaker at the March meeting of the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition. His topic, "Opportunity: Transforming America's Transportation,” can be seen at the link below.
Smith is the former 16-year Republican Mayor of Meridian, Miss., and a former Chairman of the Amtrak Board of Directors. During his tenure as Mayor, he received acclaim for his aggressive facilitation of the public-private partnerships that resulted in over $430 million of infrastructure projects that bolstered the economy and quality of life for the people of Meridian. A recognized authority on public and private transportation & development funding, he guided the development and construction of the Southeast’s first multi-modal transportation center, Meridian Union Station.
Transportation for America is an advocacy organization made up of local, regional and state leaders who envision a transportation system that safely, affordably and conveniently connects people of all means and ability to jobs, services, and opportunity through multiple modes of travel.
Click here to watch the March meeting video:
February, 2021 Meeting:
This month, guest speaker Rick Harnish, Executive Director of the High Speed Rail Alliance, discussed why high speed passenger trains will be transformative for our country by increasing mobility options, bridging the urban/rural divide, and achieving environmental sustainability.
Also- WCWRC Chairman Scott Rogers provided an update on plans to begin passenger rail service between the Chippewa Valley and the Twin Cities.
To watch a replay of the February Rail Coalition Meeting, click here: https://youtu.be/0neweGtDuP0