Ground was broken this past Monday for an Amtrak station on the western outskirts of General Mitchell Internation Airport. The $6.5 million project consists of a small station building (nothing extravagant, probably more of a large waiting shelter with than anything else), a 300-space parking lot, and track improvements that will allow passenger trains to avoid tying up freight trains on the line.
The airport station is being targeted primarily to three different groups: Chicago-area airline passengers (those who want to avoid Chicgao's airports), Milwaukee-area train passengers (those from the South Side/southern suburbs who won't have to go all the way Downtown to catch a train to Chicago), and Downtown Milwaukee commuters (those from the South Side/southern suburbs who work Downtown).
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
A proposed Metra commuter rail extension would also serve the airport, using tracks through nearby Cudahy, east of the airport (which would be linked via shuttle bus).
See the
Journal Sentinel article for additional details:
Amtrak breaks ground for airport station - Stop will cater to business travelers
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In other Milwaukee railroad news, this past Tuesday Amtrak made a request to Congress for $281 million that would be used to help fund part of a $351 million plan for a Chicago-Milwaukee-Madison high-speed rail line.
Wisconsin has been studying high-speed rail for several years, and has a plan ready to roll, but a lack of funding has prevented that train from leaving the station.
Assuming all the necessary funding is acquired and all the improvements are made:
- Milwaukee-Madison service would start with 6 daily round-trips at 110 mph, and would evenentually be increased to 10 daily round-trips. Additional stations would be built in Brookfield, Oconomoc, and Watertown--with some trains making all stops and others offering express-only service between Milwaukee and Madison. Currently there is no direct Milwaukee-Madison rail connection.
- The existing Chciago-Milwaukee service would increase from 7 daily round-trips to 10 daily round-trips at 70 mph, at first. It would eventually increase to 17 daily round-trips at 110 mph.
Check out this
Journal Sentinel article for many more details (possible fares, ridership figures, etc.):
Amtrak seeks funds for Madison route - Congress also asked to help upgrade Milwaukee-Chicago service; $281 million requested
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The housing boom in the Walker's Point neighborhood continues, with another warehouse that will be converted into condos. The $3 million conversion calls for 21 units (studio and one-bedrooms) to be built on the upper three floors, and ground-floor commercial space. The redevelopment, located on S. 1st Street will be known as the Roxwell Lofts.
Have a look though the
Journal Sentinel article for a recap of other Walker's Point projects:
Walker's Point building undergoing conversion - 21 condominiums planned for warehouse
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Groundbreaking occurred this Wednesday for the Milwaukee Public Market. The $10 million market will provide an indoor/outdoor venue for people to buy and sell locally-grown produce, meat, poultry, seafood, specialty food items, and flowers. The project has been funded through private donations, state loans, and a federal grant.
The Market (which has its roots as a studio project at UWM's School of Architecture and Urban Planning) is being built on a surface parking lot at the corner of N. Water Street and E. St. Paul Avenue in the Third Ward.
Some more info can be read in this article from the
Business Journal:
Milwaukee Public Market breaks ground; receives state aid