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New Survey of Winona, Minnesota-Area University Students Echoes 2015-16 MIPRC Study’s Pro-Passenger Rail Results
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New Survey of Winona, Minnesota-Area University Students Echoes 2015-16 MIPRC Study’s Pro-Passenger Rail Results

A new survey of college and university students in Winona, Minnesota, finds that four in 10 respondents say they have taken Amtrak, more than half say they would ride more frequently if more frequent service was available, and almost two-thirds say they consider passenger rail service important to the nation’s transportation future.

Six hundred sixty-four respondents at three Winona-area schools – Minnesota State College-Southeast, St. Mary’s University of Minnesota and Winona State University – participated in the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission survey, which supplements one conducted in 2015-16 involving 30 schools across nine Midwestern states.

These surveys aim to assess the importance of intercity passenger rail service among college and university students, faculty and staff whose schools are located along current Amtrak routes and help determine what schools, states and the region can do to boost passenger rail service.

“The supplemental survey results add to the evidence that there is strong support – and an untapped passenger base – for passenger rail in the Midwest,” said MIPRC Chair Tim Hoeffner. “We hope these results add momentum to the push for a second daily Twin Cities-Chicago train and other regional services.”

Minnesota is currently served by one daily roundtrip Amtrak train: the long-distance Empire Builder route between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, each way, which includes a stop in Winona.

An overview and analysis of the supplemental survey’s results can be seen here.

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