I’m not anti-train, in fact I think things like the San Diego Model Railroad Museum are worth spending money on! (Private money, not public money 
).
But if the $823 million (and not all of the $823 is for Milwaukee-Madison, its for Chicago to Minneapolis) will help upgrade the route to high speed rail. (Forgive the skepticism, but “up to 110 mph” sounds like those ads – “save up to 80%”). Keep in mind this is construction, not operation costs.
The greater question is – what is the comparative advantage of rail from Milwaukee to Madison, when BadgerBus is roughly doing the same thing.
Rail: up to 10 roundtrips a day
BadgerBus: 6 roundtrips a day
Rail: Milwaukee Airport, Downtown Milwaukee, Brookfield, Oconomowoc, Watertown, Madison-Airport
BadgerBus: Milwaukee Airport, Milwaukee-Bus Depot, Milwaukee-84th St. Park & ride, Waukesha-Goerkes Corners, Johnson Creek-Park & Ride, Madison-Capitol, Madison-UW, Madison-West Washington, Madison-Park and Ride.
So roughly BadgerBus serves the core route. Granted it doesn’t go Chicago to Minneapolis (which in an 110 mph high speed rail situation would cut the driving time ORD-MSP from 6.25 hrs to 4 hrs)… but even focusing on the main Wisconsin route – it is estimated to bring in around $10-20 million a year. Of that, ~30% is charter business. So – just curious but will the market support that level of transit?
For an interesting comparison, instead of starting with $823 million, BadgerBus started with $100.
By the way – anyone notice how the White House misspelled Brookfield?
“Using grants from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), intercity passenger rail service will be established between Milwaukee and Madison with stops in Brook eld, Oconomowoc, and Watertown at speeds of up to 110 mph. Service is expected by 2013.”
