A new car would be added to the Amtrak trains running between Milwaukee and Chicago in 2010 and a new daily trip would be added in 2011, under the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s budget request.

The department is seeking an additional $1.8 million in FY10 and $10.1 million in FY11 to help pay for the improvements. Most of the money would be from federal funds.

A total of $6.5 million in transportation funds is budgeted for rail service is FY09. An additional $16 million in general obligation bonding authority also is available. “some of these funds could be used to support improvements that would increase annual passenger ridership,” the budget request said.

“Since 1989,” according to the budget request, “the Department of Transportation (DOT), in cooperation with the Illinois DOT, has had a program to support railroad passenger service between Milwaukee and Chicago. During this period there have been two periods of declining ridership. The first occurred in 1995 when the level of service was cut from 7 daily trains to 4 and at the same time the fare was increased 50%. The second period of decline occurred following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.”

Ridership on the Hiawatha between Milwaukee and Chicago is shown on the chart below.