With over $800 million in federal stimulus money secured for a high-speed passenger rail connecting Madison to Milwaukee, city and county officials are reopening the discussion of where the station should be located.
In its application for stimulus funds, the state earmarked the Dane County Regional Airport as the station’s site, but now that may be subject to change.
Months before the state submitted its application, a group of Madison residents proposed an alternative to the airport — the so-called “Yahara Station,” located at the intersection of First Street and East Washington Avenue.
The site is 1.6 miles from the Capitol, making it 3.5 miles closer to downtown Madison than the airport. Furthermore, the Yahara station would be located on the already existing mainline track from Milwaukee to Madison.
The site’s proximity to downtown and potential for transit-oriented development, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz’s spokesperson Rachel Strauch-Nelson said, makes it a viable option.
Cieslewicz has met with proponents of both the airport and Yahara station, and, having assessed the advantages of both, wants to see two Madison stations, Strauch-Nelson said.
“Ideally, the mayor would love to have two stations, one at the airport and one on the near-east side,” Strauch-Nelson said.
Strauch-Nelson added Cieslewicz hopes to discuss site locations with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, which ultimately will be responsible for making the decision.
Topf Wells, chief of staff to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, maintains the airport site has significant advantages — including the potential for multi-modal connections and available parking space — and therefore makes the most sense as the station’s preliminary location.
The county, however, is not entirely opposed to the Yahara station, Wells said.
“I don’t think the county feels this is a situation where there are heroes or villains,” Wells said. “Both sites have some significant strengths, some advantages and disadvantages. I don’t think the county is closing the door on the First Street station.”
Wells added the next stage of the project will require greater analysis of the viability of the individual sites as well as how they fit into the larger transportation system.
Regardless of the station’s location, Wells said, the realization of high-speed rail itself is a victory for the state and a significant benefit for Madison residents.
“People see this as an exciting, convenient link between two really important areas of the state,” Wells said. “There are going to be many well-paying jobs that are going to be created bringing the track up to high-speed standards.”
Wells said the forthcoming city, county and state committees discussing high-speed rail will allow for ample public participation. With two viable location options, Wells does not anticipate heated or antagonistic debate, but rather civil discussion.
“It took an enormous amount of work and some good fortune to get this great project,” Wells said.” It’s a great win for the state; it’s a great win for our city and county. Now there’s a lot of work to do to make it work, but I think people are getting into it with a positive, can-do spirit.”
