Sen. Miller Authors Bill to Fund Railroad Upgrades

(KWNO)- Sen. Jeremy Miller R-Winona introduced a bill Monday that would fund Minnesota’s portion for improvements to the railroad infrastructure.  

The funding would cover upgrades to the Soo Line which connects the Twin Cities to Milwaukee and stops in Winona. If the $10 million in funding were approved, it would also pave the way for a second Amtrak line to stop in Winona.  

“There is a significant amount of local support, and of course some opposition, to the Twin Cities-Milwaukee-Chicago (TCMC) second train proposal,” said Sen. Miller R-Winona. “The second train would be a great addition, however, I’m most excited about the local track and signal improvements that are included in the proposal, which would benefit both freight and passenger rail. A $10 million investment from the state of Minnesota would result in $53 million in rail upgrades, including over $19 million in Winona and close to $21 million in La Crescent. These upgrades would improve safety and I’m told they would also improve switching times in Winona, which would be terrific for Winona.”