Winter in the Midwest never fails to rejuvenate two thrilling topics of conversation: one, the weather, the other, “the state of the roads.” Four months into the brutal season, Wisconsinites continue to drone on the length of the commute and the icicles. This year, though, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation is generating new fodder to chew, in the form of its 20-year draft plan, Connections 2030, for transportation systems in the state.

Connections 2030’s objective is to align all modes of transportation to maximize safe and efficient movement of people and their stuff. The DOT is in the process of sharing the plan through a series of statewide public meetings, like the one in Eau Claire on Feb. 12.

Multimodal, the proposal’s buzzword, is indicative of how Wisconsin will reap the benefits of integrating air, water, land, and rail – yes rail – transport. The flashiest part of Connections 2030 is its intercity passenger rail portion. In less than two decades, the DOT aims to expand the Amtrak route that currently links St. Paul to La Crosse, to reach Chicago and Milwaukee, by way of Madison. A Milwaukee to Green Bay route is also in the cards.

The plan sounds progressive and exciting, save one circumstantiality. According to Aileen Switzer of the DOT, Connections 2030 adheres to a plan set by the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative, which promises only to “consider” rail service to the Chippewa Valley after the grand scheme has been put into motion. Thus, in the words of Eau Claire City Council member David Klinkhammer, “Basically ... we’re left out.”

Not to worry, Connections 2030 includes plenty of benefits for the Chippewa Valley, like “enhanced accommodations and linkages” along bike trails, new bus routes connecting Duluth, Eau Claire, and Chippewa Falls, and the Twin Cities, Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, and Green Bay, and six lanes on I-94.

Despite these notable improvements, one group is not satisfied. The West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition has worked with the state to gather evidence on the potential for an intercity rail system here, for several years now. Scott Rogers, co-chair of the coalition, said a rail system that includes the Chippewa Valley is “feasible,” and “should be adopted as part of the state plan, and not just a maybe.” The passenger  system is inspired by those already in use on the west coast and in Minnesota.

Jackie Pavelski, an Eau Claire City Council member and nine-year participant in the coalition, agrees that western Wisconsin, especially St. Croix County, the “fastest-growing part of the state,” is primed for high-speed rail. “On the border we have 40,000 cars a day, so there’s capacity issues, congestion issues,” she explained. Pavelski noted that this statistic is even higher than the traffic count between Madison and Milwaukee.

Both the city council and the coalition fully support the agenda laid out by the DOT, but fear the voice of the Chippewa Valley may be drowned out by the din of larger metro areas like Madison and Milwaukee. “If we’re going to have adequate economic development, and retain the ... brains that we’re developing here, we’re going to have to improve our connections with some of the bigger metropolitan areas,” Klinkhammer expressed.

The Chippewa Valley representatives remain steadfast and hopeful that with enough clamor, Eau Claire can be worked into the final draft of the plan as a guaranteed recipient of intercity rail service, and not just a consideration. Pavelski stated, “I’ve been talking about it for nine years now, and I haven’t given up yet, nor have I become cynical.”

    To view the improvements slated by the DOT, and to submit your own comments on passenger rail in the Chippewa Valley, visit www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/state/connections2030.htm.