Dunn County board votes to join multi-county passenger rail planning, approves up to $37,000

The Dunn County Board of Supervisors on June 17 voted to join a multi-jurisdictional passenger-rail planning effort and approved a capital allocation to cover the county’s share of a local match for a federally funded study.

Scott Rogers, chair of the Chippewa St. Croix Rail Commission, told the board the federal Corridor ID program and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law create a new pipeline for passenger-rail development. He said the commission’s service-development plan would cost about $1.96 million and that the federal program typically covers roughly 90% of that expense, leaving about a $200,000 local match for the coalition to divide among participating entities. "Basically, the investment of $37,000 over a couple years helps to unlock that 90% federal funding," Rogers said.

The board first approved an intergovernmental agreement to participate in corridor planning and then approved a capital improvement request to commit Dunn County’s share — described in the packet as up to $37,000 spread over two years. The intergovernmental agreement vote passed in a roll-call tally of 23 in favor and six opposed; the motion to add the capital request also passed.

Supporters framed the measures narrowly as a feasibility and planning step that would not obligate the county to later construction costs. "All this is going to do is help fund a feasibility study that will get us the pertinent facts about whether this is worth going forward with or not," said Supervisor Steen, who urged colleagues to back the measure.

Opponents said even a study represents county spending that many of their constituents are unlikely to use. Supervisor Laufer, who voted no in committee and again at the board, said he could not support asking taxpayers to fund a project whose benefits would be unevenly distributed. "I just have a problem voting to spend taxpayer dollars on something that a lot of the residents in District 1 that I represent would never have a use for," Laufer said.

Board members also asked technical and operational questions during the presentation and Q&A: likely stops discussed included Eau Claire, Menomonie and Hudson; Union Pacific owns the host track and has engaged with the commission; and the service-development plan would examine ridership, schedules, capital needs and station locations. Rogers noted other Midwest examples — such as the Borealis service and investment around Normal, Illinois — where rail stations spurred economic activity.

County staff said participating in Corridor ID does not commit the county to further funding beyond the approved match and that the intergovernmental agreement contains termination provisions should the county decline to allocate funds in its capital plan. Several presenters and supervisors also noted that other member governments, institutions and potential partners might share or reduce Dunn County’s contribution.

Next steps: the commission expects the scoping work and Corridor ID steps to move the corridor into the federally supported service-development plan; if accepted, that plan would move the corridor toward engineering and environmental steps. Any future funding requests beyond the approved capital allocation would require separate board action.