MIPRC receives a federal planning grant to advance the Midwest's regional rail network

The Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission will receive a federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure & Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to advance planning work for the long-term development of a regional passenger rail network.

In late October, the Federal Railroad Administration announced it will award up to $1.84 million from the CRISI Program’s fiscal year 2023-24 funding to “Invest Midwest: The Future of Midwest Passenger Rail-Phase 1” – a MIPRC-led project that will advance and expand the regional network vision proposed by the FRA’s 2021 Midwest Regional Rail Plan (MWRRP).

Invest Midwest Phase 1 will include close coordination with member state departments of transportation to engage in region-wide stakeholder engagement and service planning through the development of ridership and revenue forecasting, economic impacts analyses and a phasing strategy for corridors across the Midwest, complementing the FRA’s Corridor Identification and Development Program and other route improvements being undertaken by MIPRC states.

“MIPRC is thrilled to receive this CRISI grant as an investment to advance our mission, further our network planning and solidify the partnerships that move Midwest passengers throughout the region and beyond,” said MIPRC Chair Beth McCluskey, who is Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s appointee to the Commission.

Invest Midwest’s ultimate goal is completion of regional rail planning work for the MWRRP and additional routes envisioned by member states, FRA’s Long Distance Study and Amtrak’s Connects US plan in the 12 states that are, or are eligible to be members of MIPRC: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Invest Midwest was selected under the “Systems and Project Planning” track. MIPRC will contribute the required 20 percent non-Federal match.

In the current round of CRISI funding, the FRA released $2.4 billion to 122 projects in 41 states. Other winning MIPRC states’ grant project awards in this round of CRISI funding include:

• Up to $157.1 million to the city of Springfield, Illinois, for construction of the final phase of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project. When completed, it will shift passenger rail from its current speed-restricted route through a residential neighborhood to a multi-track corridor that will reduce travel times for state-supported Lincoln Service (Chicago-St. Louis) and long-distance Texas Eagle trains. The project includes a new Springfield station/transportation center with connections to local transit and intercity bus services. Springfield, Sangamon County and the Illinois Department of Transportation will provide the 20 percent non-federal match.

• Up to $8.4 million to Amtrak for final design and construction to restore functionality on double track along Amtrak’s Michigan line between Niles, Mich., and Glenwood Road in Wayne Township. The project will minimize traffic bottlenecks, leading to an anticipated trip-time savings of over 11 minutes for state-supported Blue Water (Port Huron-Chicago) and Wolverine (Pontiac/Detroit-Chicago) trains. The Michigan Department of Transportation and Amtrak will provide the 20 percent non-federal match.

• Up to $72.8 million to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for final design right-of-way acquisition and construction of bypass tracks at the Muskego Yard in Milwaukee, Wis. This project will install a new two-track mainline, implement a bidirectional Centralized Traffic Control system, and replace or rehabilitate approximately five bridges to allow freight trains to bypass the Milwaukee Intermodal Station. That, in turn, will improve travel times for the state-supported Hiawatha (Milwaukee-Chicago) and Borealis (Chicago-Milwaukee-Twin Cities) trains, and the long-distance Empire Builder (Chicago-Seattle/Portland, Ore.). It will also allow for expanded Hiawatha service. WisDOT and Amtrak will provide the 20 percent non-federal match.

You can see the entire list of winning projects here.