More Information Presented For High-Speed Train In Madison

It is not everyday that a construction project is planned for a high-speed train that will come to the heart of Madison’s Isthmus.  That was evident Thursday afternoon when both the current and past Chairs of the Dane County Board sat next to each other during an informative presentation by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

With emotions riding high for both supporters and opponents of the high-speed train for Madison a large roomful of people turned out to hear the most updated news and proposals for the venture.  The train station is slated to be built at 101 E. Wilson Street as part of an $810 million high-speed rail project connecting Madison with Milwaukee.  The work is to be completed by early 2013.  

As the DOT continues to wade through and examine all the issues it confronts, it has used public input to help it make decisions.   While information was presented to the public Thursday, all those from the DOT were also very interested in constructive ideas and feedback.  While a site selection has been made for the station, the design of the station has yet to be determined.  High on the mind of many in attendance was how access to the station would be granted.  That matter has not yet been resolved by engineers.  The station pick-up and drop-off locations also have not been finalized.  The ideas for platform design is still in the formative stages, and no design of the facility can be made without the platform design first being completed.

There were nuggets in the presentation that brought smiles to some in attendance when it was reported that in sections welded rail would be used to cut down on noise.  But for every smile there were also notes of concern from those in attendance.  The issue of fencing locations and issues of how to insure safety considerations is being drafted in a report at this time, with more public input surely to follow.

The broader outline of where the project stands now as one looks into the future is as follows:

***Late 2010 the start of track construction will begin.

***Summer of 2011 final design of the station will take place.

***Early 2012 the station construction will begin.

***2013…..ALL ABOARD!

For those who live in Madison it is clear that the train proposal is the biggest news for the city since Jerome Frautschi had a vision to build the Overture Center.  As I sat at the meeting I reflected backwards on how our city is at its best when dreamers step up and pull the rest of us along into the future.   It is never a seamless transition, but one that always provides a great benefit to all who live here.

There are those who wish to stop the train in its tracks, and seem to place hope that a different political party in power can achieve that goal.  But the concept of high-speed rail would appear to be larger than mere politics.  There seems to be a national mood about rail that  roots this transportation system into our future, and therefore not able to be undone by new political leadership in Madison or Washington.

There was a feeling among the DOT staff on Thursday, who ably fielded my questions, that the high-speed train should not be a political football as the Marquette Interchange in Milwaukee was for years.  There should be an ability to complete our common goals without undue political rancor.  (Oh, but if that were only so.)

As I sat at the meeting I looked around and wondered if others who seemed about my age (48) felt inside like a seven-year-old while thinking of the train slated for Madison.  After all, a rather fascinating construction process will be undertaken in downtown Madison that will bring high-speed train here.  There will be countless reasons to venture on the Isthmus for walks as the tracks are laid, and the train station takes definition. There will be a certain energy and excitement that the child in all of us will be lulled into getting close to and experiencing as we get ready for that first train to pull into the station.  After all, it is not everyday that a high-speed train comes to the heart of Madison.