About the Study
The Commission is assisting the City of Racine and partners in the Milwaukee Area-Racine-Kenosha (MARK) Rail Study, which would reintroduce passenger rail service in the Union Pacific corridor between Kenosha and Milwaukee (map of the study corridor). The City of Racine obtained $5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending and is using part of those funds to complete the study. For current study information, visit the MARK Rail website.
Relation to Previous Studies
The Commission previously participated in studies related to establishing a commuter rail line in the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) corridor, which is recommended in VISION 2050 as part of a larger commuter rail network. More information on those studies can be found in the archived website for the KRM Commuter Link project.
The current MARK Rail effort is building on all the previous, detailed study and analysis to bring commuter rail to this corridor. It differs in important ways to reflect changes since the previous studies were completed, and is exploring different service designs, station locations, organizational structures, and funding mechanisms.
Study Guidance and Input
The study is being guided by an advisory Steering Committee initially made up of representatives from the Cities of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee; the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT); and the Commission. To guide and shape the technical aspects of the project, a Technical Working Group has also been formed, which is made up of representatives from the three cities, the Milwaukee County Transit System, Kenosha County, WisDOT, and the Commission. The composition of these advisory groups may change as the study progresses. An element of the MARK Rail Study also involves examining potential organizational structures that could more permanently guide and implement MARK Rail service.
The MARK Rail team will conduct public and stakeholder engagement to obtain input as the Study works toward a preferred service design. To stay informed, sign up for updates through the MARK Rail website.
Commission Role in the Study
The Commission’s role in the current study is to provide project management support through an intergovernmental agreement with the City of Racine. This includes assistance with study scoping; forming and participating on the project team, Steering Committee, and Technical Working Group; procuring consultants and overseeing and supporting their work; and supporting an anticipated request to enter a federal funding program to support subsequent project development phases.