LRB-3151/1
ARG:eev:jf
2013 - 2014 LEGISLATURE
March 10, 2014 - Introduced by Senators Miller,
Harris, Schultz, Lehman and T.
Cullen, cosponsored by Representatives Sargent, Hulsey, Genrich, Wright,
Hebl, Berceau, Kahl, Shankland and Wachs. Referred to Committee on
Transportation, Public Safety, and Veterans and Military Affairs.
SB672,1,2
1An Act to create 85.057 of the statutes;
relating to: requiring the Department
2of Transportation to prepare a state rail plan.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to biennially
prepare and transmit to the legislature, and to post on DOT's Internet site, a state
rail plan. The plan must provide a detailed review of existing passenger rail service
needs and capabilities in this state as well as projected needs and capabilities for the
following ten-year period. The plan must also provide a detailed review of existing
and projected funding levels and sources for passenger rail service. Among its
contents, the plan must include a plan or proposal to accomplish passenger rail
service over specified routes.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB672,1
3Section
1. 85.057 of the statutes is created to read:
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485.057 State rail plan. (1) No later than July 1, 2014, the department shall
5prepare and transmit to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature
1under s. 13.172 (3), and post on the department's Internet site, a state rail plan. The
2plan shall provide a detailed review of existing passenger rail service needs and
3capabilities in this state as well as projected needs and capabilities for the following
410-year period. The plan shall also provide a detailed review of existing and
5projected funding levels and sources for passenger rail service.
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6(2) After July 1, 2014, the department shall update the state rail plan under
7sub. (1) biennially. No later than July 1 of each even-numbered year, the department
8shall transmit the updated plan to the appropriate standing committees of the
9legislature under s. 13.172 (3) and post the updated plan on the department's
10Internet site.
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11(3) (a) Each state rail plan under sub. (1) or (2) shall include a plan or proposal
12to accomplish all of the following:
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1. The addition of a second train through Wisconsin providing daily passenger
14rail service from Chicago to Minneapolis.
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2. The addition of passenger rail service from Chicago to Madison through
16Watertown or Janesville.
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3. The addition of passenger rail service from Minneapolis to the Eau
18Claire-Chippewa Falls metropolitan area.
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4. The addition of passenger rail service from Milwaukee or Chicago to the
20Green Bay and Fox Valley areas.
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5. Adequate funding for future equipment orders of cars and locomotives to be
22used in passenger rail service in Wisconsin.
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6. Adequate funding for the study of future passenger rail routes and service
24in Wisconsin.
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1(b) Each state rail plan under sub. (1) or (2) shall express support for all of the
2following:
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1. Commuter rail as an integral part of public transportation.
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2. The importance of intermodality and connectivity between all forms of public
5transportation to provide stimulus for economic development and alternative
6choices in transportation for a growing elderly population and persons with physical
7disabilities.
