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According to a survey commission by The Wisconsin Association of Railroad Passengers, a rail advocate group, Wisconsin residents have a very positive view of rail service and would like to see it continued. In our view, that's good news, because the transportation future of Wisconsin and the nation should include as many options as possible.
According to the scientific survey conducted by a Madison research firm, 77 percent of Wisconsin residents support the idea of a nationwide passenger rail system.
Given a choice of alternatives to highway congestion, 45 percent said they preferred rail, as opposed to 34 percent wanting to fly and 21 percent wanting to take a bus.
Obviously, air service is going to be the preferred mode of travel for long trips. But for some intermediate trips, passenger trains might prove to be an attractive alternative — particularly if there are different transportation alternatives once you reach your destination.
For instance, it would make sense to have trains, intercity and local buses coming into the same place. That will happen in Milwaukee, where the state has purchased the Amtrak station there.
The Milwaukee Greyhound Bus depot, a few blocks away, will soon close, with buses using the Amtrak station. That kind of convenience makes bus and train service more attractive.
How about flying? Is there a way to connect buses and trains with a spot to catch a plane? If a passenger train stop is made at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee, that combination of service will become a reality.
If proposals to create a system of fast-rail trains in the Midwest become reality, La Crosse could be one of many cities with access to a much faster and upgraded train service. The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative is a proposal that would link 3,000 miles of enhanced passenger rail service between many Midwestern communities and Chicago.
For us, it would provide a faster and more convenient link to Chicago and the Twin Cities.
Former Gov. Tommy Thompson was a supporter of this proposal. Gov. Jim Doyle has been dipping into the transportation fund to balance the budget. If he keeps doing that, Wisconsin might not have the money to support this proposal when the time comes to do so.
It's hard to talk about passenger trains when budgets are tight and the economy is uncertain.
But they can play a larger role in our transportation system — and reduce congestion on the highways in the process
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