Wisconsin Central Group

2025-2028 – On Ending the Big GLFR Disconnect.

October 25, 2024 No Comments

We are pleased to announce our return to the fray with an overview on the subject of Ending the Big GLFR Disconnect.

Our arsenal will likely include some new weaponry:

Incorporation of Wisconsin Central Group as a 501(c)(3) qualified to receive private foundation funding;
Appeal for private and public sector participants;Realignment of Lake States Shippers Association to support WCGroup through shipper participation including sourcing Actionable Shipper Data for Rail Infrastructure Investment and Operations Planning; and
Seeking funding via a qualified applicant or applicants for public grant funding (e.g., the Regional Infrastructure Accelerators Program, Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success, etc.).

Great Lakes Freight Rail Established, New Dimensions in Rail for WI/MI/MN/ON.

November 19, 2020 No Comments

Shortly after the late July 2020 public announcement of CN’s “Wisconsin – Northern Michigan Branch Line Proposed Divestiture,” the GLFR Team assembled in a series of online and in-person meetings in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The GLFR Team represents decades of experience in all aspects of freight transportation within the Great Lakes Forests Region and extending across North America and beyond. GLFR also represents more than a decade of working collaboratively with CN, shippers and other stakeholders across the Region and learning how to bring more, profitable and sustainable freight to the lighter density lines of the former Wisconsin Central throughout the Region.

Hence, GLFR’s tag line: “New Dimensions in Rail for Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and Ontario”.

LSSA/WCGroup’s Last Decade and Recent Activity are prologue and foundation for a new era and the “New Dimensions” for freight rail and rail intermodal we predict. GLFR’s objective is to acquire and to restore and transform all lines CN intends to divest into a “system” for effective rail access for via all former Wisconsin Central lighter density rail corridors. Great Lakes Freight Rail satisfies all the LSSA/WGroup’s “Considerations for Responding to CN’s Wisconsin Central Divestiture Plan”.

A Comprehensive Update, Rail Projects Progress – Spring 2020

April 20, 2020 No Comments

We have made substantial progress since the LSSA Data Co-op Committee meeting at Titletown Green Bay on January 21, 2020. There have been significant developments outlined in our Comprehensive Update – Spring 2020.

This update outlines a series of Projects during 2020, expanding on the LSSA/MITech Data Co-op Project (final report posted 4/3/2020), our overall objective remains to convert over-the-road truckload freight to rail and rail intermodal to fill currently underutilized rail capacity and identify new investments in rail and rail-related infrastructure to accommodate additional truckload conversions beyond existing rail capacity. More specifically, the multiple projects are outlined and discussed in the Update, as their goal, will:

On the demand side, assemble and deploy Actionable Shipper Data, freight all kinds, rail, truckload and intermodal of sufficient magnitude/volumes, at the freight lane level, to support railroad operations, rate and investment decisions that will result in substantial conversions from over-the-road truckload to rail and rail intermodal; and
On the supply side, assemble from the railroad participants, railroad operations and service metrics to support feasible conversions of over-the-road truckloads to currently underutilized rail capacity and as the foundation for application for federal grant funds for selected, identified rail and rail related infrastructure investments.

The proposed deadline for completion of the Projects is year end 2020 with the objective of supporting applications for shares of the over $1 billion plus of USDOT infrastructure competitive grant funds. It is likely that the total available funding may be increased in the coming months.

MI/WI Legislators’ Joint Forum on Northwoods Rail Service Upcoming

August 13, 2019 No Comments

Michigan Senator McBroom and Wisconsin Senator Tiffany will hold two public meetings on northwoods rail service, at Marquette on Monday, August 26, 2019 and at Rhinelander on Tuesday, August 27, 2019. See the Public Notice here.

NRTC/LSSA-DCC Joint Meeting, More About Grant Funding Opportunities

March 5, 2019 No Comments

LSSA’s Data Co-op Committee and Northwoods Rail Transit Commission held a joint meeting 1/18/2019. Acting Chair, Stacey Johnson, explained NRTC’s initiatives on: (a) coordinating activities of organizations interested in Northwods rail access (e.g., New North, GLTPA, WCA, etc.); and (b) seed money and grant funding for Northwoods rail and rail related preservation and infrastructure projects. Libby Ogard’s, Prime Focus LLC, presentation provided “Grant Funding Opportunities Overview“. Pasi Lautala provided an update of final steps in Phase One of the MI Tech /LSSA Data Co-op Project which has developed a uniquely detailed picture of Northwoods rail opportunities at the “Actionable Shipper Data” level [3rd Stakeholder Meeting MI Tech Report].

Moving Along on 2019-2020 Campaign, Follow the Money

December 13, 2018 No Comments

LSSA Data Co-op Committee meeting 11/6/2018 at Escanaba featured an update on MI Tech Data Co-op Project, exploration of the multiple uses for the aggregated data, expanding the number of years in the data base and consideration of recommendations for Campaign 2019-2020. At Madison on 11/27-28/2018, Counsel and NRTC’s Chair addressed these topics in a series of meetings with: WI Counties Association; WI Manufacturers & Commerce; and WisDOT economic development and rail and harbors staff. From the latter consultations emerged a draft outline for a Wisconsin Forest and Freight Rail Preservation Program (“F2RPP”). The objective of F2RPP is to provide availability and flexibility of State funding to leverage federal grants such as those announced by USDOT on 12/11/2018, $1.5 Billion in BUILD Transportation Grants to Revitalize Infrastructure Nationwide.

NRTC Meets – Update on 2019-2020 Campaign Suggestions

November 3, 2018 No Comments

On 10/26/2018, the Northwoods Rail Transit Commission met at Rhinelander at the headquarters of the Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association (“GLTPA”). Counsel was provided a generous opportunity to participate and provide information on LSSA Data Co-op Project and on “gearing up” for WCGroup/LSSA Campaign 2019-2020. Representatives of the CN and E&LS railroads also participated. The NRTC meeting afforded a post-meeting opportunity to visit with GLTPA’s Executive Director on the same topics. Meeting follow-up includes circulation to NRTC suggestions outlined in Campaign 2019-2020 – Some Action Options To Consider. The paper will also be presented to the LSSA DCC meeting at Escanaba on 11/6/2018. Several NRTC officials have been invited to attend.

More Gearing Up for WCGroup/LSSA 2019-2020 Campaign

October 15, 2018 No Comments

On 10/13/2018, at Governor Walker’s “2018 Governor’s Freight Industry Summit – Wisconsin Freight: Recognizing the Local Connection,” we circulated a further paper as part of the prologue to the WCGroup/LSSA’s 2019 campaign for implementing concerted action based, in part, on anticipated findings of Phase 1 of the LSSA/Michigan Tech Data Co-Op Project.

An updated version of the paper is provided here: Un-Balkanize/Reintegrate Great Lakes Forests Wood Fiber Market, Re-Connect the Great Lakes Forests Region Rail Network.

Gearing Up for WCGroup/LSSA 2019-2020 Campaign

September 17, 2018 No Comments

On 9/13/2018 at WMC Headquarters, Madison, WisDOT Secretary Ross and Deputy Secretary Seitz keynoted and engaged in Q&A with participants at a special meeting of the WMC Transportation Committee. A draft of Counsel’s upcoming presentation, on 9/19/2018 to the Price County Economic Development Corporation, was circulated. The paper is prologue to the WCGroup/LSSA’s 2019 campaign for implementing concerted action based, in part, on anticipated findings of Phase 1 of the LSSA/Michigan Tech Data Co-Op Project.

The paper is available here: Challenges and Opportunities, Northwoods Railroading & Jobs – We’re Not Fly-Over Country, and We’re Not Going to Take It Anymore!