Local leaders back Eau Claire-Twin Cities passenger-rail plan

The City Council in Eau Claire, Wis., earlier this week backed a proposal to establish passenger-rail service between the city and St. Paul, Minn.

The council's vote followed a presentation by the West Central Wisconsin Rail Coalition, which wants to work with the private sector to initiate passenger-rail service from Eau Claire to St. Paul via Menomonie, Wis., and Stillwater, Minn.

The council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the coalition's efforts, officials from the group said in a Facebook post.

The Eau Claire City Council has approved resolutions supporting passenger-rail three times in recent years, but those resolutions didn't go anywhere because of a lack of state government support and funding, the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reported.

Video featuring the passenger-rail presentation at the Eau Claire City Council meeting.