Should City Buy 30th Street Railroad Line?

The City of Milwaukee has big dreams for a lightly-used rail line that bisects the middle of the city.

The 6.7-mile 30th Street Corridor could be used for a paved trail for cyclists and pedestrians. The rail line itself could also be used as part of a larger commuter rail system. It’s a grade-separated corridor that runs from the Menomonee Valley north to W. Hampton Ave.

A Rails-to-Trails study identifies the corridor as the most important potential trail investment in the region in terms of creating more equitable trail access. The 700-mile Route of the Badger initiative identifies the corridor as a key link in a regional trail network.

“We keep saying that, except it’s someone else’s property,” said Alderman Robert Bauman at a meeting Wednesday of the Public Works Committee. “I think the first thing you would do is get control of the property.”

The alderman introduced a file that requests the city administration to begin negotiations with Watco, the line’s current owner, about purchasing the corridor. “With the exception that they would continue to have access for freight service,” he said.

“I’ve been looking at this right of way for only about 40 years and seeing its great potential for development both for a bike trail and a rail facility,” said the alderman, who previously held multiple jobs in the railroad industry.

But will Watco sell? “Because it is a recent acquisition of theirs… they are hesitant to sell it,” said Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee project manager Benjamin Timm. The railroad company, which purchased Wisconsin and Southern Railroad in 2011, acquired the line last year from Canadian Pacific.

But in addition to his railroad experience, Bauman is an attorney. He quickly identified a potential point of leverage for the city. “They understand as the owner they are on the hook to maintain and possibly replace all those very expensive bridges?” asked Bauman.

“Yes,” said Timm.

What about cleaning up illegal dumping? “Yes,” said Timm, but he said the railroad has approached the city about support.

The corridor is valuable, from a transportation perspective, because it is disconnected from the street grid. Approximately one mile near its southern end is below grade, with city-owned bridges passing above (creating the illegal dumping opportunity). To the north streets slope down to pass under the corridor, with railroad-owned bridges above.

Those railroad-owned bridges include the large bridge over the intersection of W. Fond du Lac Ave. and W. Locust St. The city recently paid artist Tia Richardson to paint a mural on an embankment near the bridge, and officials said they are exploring other options to brighten the dark intersection.

The bridges are all wider than the current single-track line. According to a 2020 city feasibility study, the corridor could accommodate both a trail and rail line.

The alderman thinks funding from either the American Rescue Plan Act or the infrastructure bill could be used to buy the corridor. “We have a unique opportunity,” said Bauman.

“Be sure to emphasize to Watco we have no intention of disrupting their operation,” said Bauman. “The intent is not to kick them out. The intent is to offload some huge cost liabilities they may face in the future.”

The railroad line was initially created by the Milwaukee Road more than a century ago. It eventually became a heavily-used industrial line, with A.O. Smith (later Tower Automotive) being the largest employer on the line, with a yard developed next to its buildings at W. Capitol Dr.

Today, the portion south of W. Highland Ave., serving the Molson Coors campus, is owned by Canadian Pacific and connects to the railroad’s international network. North of W. Hampton Ave. the corridor is owned by the State of Wisconsin and leased to Watco. It connects with Canadian National and Union Pacific‘s networks.

The city’s Century City Business Park is on the line and its tenants, PAK Technologies and Talgo, are the largest users on the Watco-owned portion of the corridor. Timm said the city meets regularly with the railroad.

“I think it would be an asset to the community and to the business park,” said the project manager of city ownership.

The committee unanimously endorsed Bauman’s request with Timm saying officials would discuss the matter with Watco. Administration offices are to report back by February 1.

And whether or not the city buys the corridor, it is already planning to access it. A proposed apartment complex at 3100 W. Meinecke Ave. would include an access ramp. The Community Within The Corridor development at W. Center St. would have direct access. Green infrastructure improvements near Century City would facilitate a connection to an east-west trail network.

Public ownership of an active freight rail line is not unprecedented. The City of Austin purchased a 162-mile railroad outright in 1986. It now operates a commuter rail line on the corridor and leases the track to Watco for freight operations.

A full copy of the 2020 study can be found on Urban Milwaukee. Also, see our earlier coverage.

2020 Study Maps