Trains In Waukesha: What's Been Done To Ease The Pain

WAUKESHA, WI — If you live, work or drive a car in Waukesha, you know the inconveniences posed whenever trains pass through the city.

They cause traffic backups, delay motorists, including police and firefighters, and cause traffic to spill into neighborhoods whenever a main intersection is blocked by a passing train.

When we asked Waukesha Patch readers what they could fix if they were able, readers said addressing Waukesha's train problem was at the top of the list.

According to city officials, the first train ran from Milwaukee to Waukesha in 1851. The first road was platted in Prairieville in 1848. Trains have always been a large part of Waukesha’s history, with most crossings being here before the streets were constructed.

As it turns out, being first matters. Now, stopping a train - even in Waukesha - is an exercise in futility.

Hard To Stop A Train

According to city officials, all the rights of the railroads are outlined in the Federal Railroad Administration, and cities do not have any rights over their operation.

According to State and Federal law, it's against the law to stop any railroad train, locomotive or car upon or across any highway or street crossing, outside of cities, or leave the same standing upon such crossing longer than 10 minutes, except in case of an accident.

Even if a local community has an ordinance that contradicts the Federal Railroad Administration, the local law will be preempted and therefore will be unenforceable, according to Waukesha city officials.

The Railroad does not even have to operate on any set schedule, and federal regulations preempt any state or local restrictions on train movements. The Railroad does not have to report any stoppage longer than 10 minutes, unless it is an accident.

It's Also Hard To Move A Train

Citing concerns by members of the public, and drivers seeking some relief from train delays, took a look at seeing what they could do to build an overpass at E. Moreland Blvd. near the Fox River. The idea was to put road traffic and train traffic on separate grades so they wouldn't interfere with one another.

Waukesha officials said in 2004, they entered a three-party contract with the Department of Transportation and an engineering consultant to study the feasibility of grade separating Moreland Blvd. and the Canadian National railroad track.

Officials said the result of an extensive study proved that it was not economically feasible to separate Moreland Blvd, at an approximate cost in 2004 of 15 million dollars and this solution would also close Whiterock Ave. at the crossing.

Tons Of Trains

There are 21 street-level railroad crossings on the main lines of the Canadian National and Wisconsin Southern Railroad in Waukesha. City officials say there are between 35-42 trains that pass through or switch in Waukesha each day.

According to city officials, Waukesha is on this main corridor and approximately 35-42 trains per The average speed through the City is 35 miles per hour.

In 2006 the City, along with the Department of Transportation sent a letter to the CN/WCL requesting the relocation of the main switch yard for the CN/WCL, located near Main Street, to a site outside of the City Limits. City officials said at the time that the 35-42 trains per day would still be moving through Waukesha, but the trains would not have to stop and switch at the yard.

Neither railroad company even bothered to respond to Waukehsa or the Department of Transportation, city officials said.