WSOR News Archive

Wisconsin & Southern Proposes Major Funding to Restore Rail Service to Rural Communities


This modified sytem map shows added rail corridors that WSOR proposes with its Rail Restoration 15 Plan, unveiled in February 2007. Click here for pdf version.
February 2007 — Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Co. presented a plan to Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation to resume rail service to several southwestern Wisconsin communities and to mitigate rail traffic concerns in Washington County.

Titled "Rail Restoration 15" or "RR15," the plan is a multi-year rail program, not to be confused with the 8+3 Plan, that will be before the legislature this coming 2007/2009 biennial budget. RR15 intends to reinstall railroad corridors that have been abandoned for several years that will spur economic development initiatives in various areas here in Wisconsin. These areas desperately need alternative transportation from existing highways. If signed into law, RR15 will also fund a project in Washington County that will increase rail/vehicular safety, reduce crossing delays, and enhance the flow of commerce into and out of the State of Wisconsin.

The 15 stands for $15 Million each year over the course of the next two biennial budgets for a total of $60 Million. State funding will be leveraged with private and other public funding sources amounting to $8 Million for this upcoming biennium or $16 Million over the next two bienniums. RR15 will fund projects in key areas throughout Wisconsin that will undoubtedly increase the flow of commerce into the State of Wisconsin by utilizing one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly forms of transportation: railroads.

The key areas targeted for RR15 include:
  • Restoring 11 miles of rail sevice between Plymouth, WI and Sheboygan Falls, WI
  • Restore rail service from Monroe to Mineral Point, WI with branch line to Shullsburg, WI (62 miles)
  • Congestion & Safety mitigation at Rugby Junction, Washington County, WI.

RR15 will adhere to the following scope and timeframe:


Timeframe

Project

Estimated Cost
State Share
(80%)
Local Match
(20%)
BUDGET 2007/2009
7/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 Rugby Jct. Safety Mitigation
$ 6,500,000
$ 5,000,000
$ 1,500,000
Plymouth/Sheboygan Falls Rebuild
$ 12,500,000
$ 10,000,000
$ 2,500,000
7/1/2008 - 6/30/2009 Monroe/Gratiot Rebuild
$ 19,000,000
$ 15,000,000
$ 4,000,000
TOTALS
$ 38,000,000
$ 30,000,000
$ 8,000,000
BUDGET 2009/2011
7/1/2009 - 6/30/2010 Gratiot/Shullsburg Rebuild
$ 19,000,000
$ 15,000,000
$ 4,000,000
7/1/2010 - 6/30/2011 Gratiot/Mineral Point Rebuild
$ 19,000,000
$ 15,000,000
$ 4,000,000
TOTALS
$ 38,000,000
$ 30,000,000
$ 8,000,000