The latest round of train money in Wisconsin means Madison will need a new train station site, and quickly.
Madison has been looking at six spots for a possible Amtrak station for years, but this month’s announcement of a half-million dollar grant to study a line from Madison to Minneapolis is jumpstarting the process. Madison Transportation Planner Liz Callin says the city is hoping to narrow those six spots down to one after a series of public meetings next month. It’s not going to be easy. Callin says Madison needs a ‘sweet spot’ that can handle Amtrak trains, riders, a parking lot, and someplace that is convenient for people to get to.