Dear Editor,

Two years ago this May, something significant happened for communities stretching from Chicago to St. Paul Paul. Amtrak’s Borealis made its inaugural run, launching a new era of passenger rail service across three states. As chair of the Great River Rail Commission — an organization that has spent years advocating for exactly this kind of expanded service along the Mississippi River Route — I find this anniversary worth celebrating and reflecting upon.

The numbers alone tell a compelling story. More than 400,000 passengers have boarded the Borealis since May 21, 2024, surpassing the projections of both Amtrak and the state Departments of Transportation. That’s not a fluke; seats on Borealis are often sold out. That’s pent-up demand from people who have been waiting for a reliable, affordable connection between the river towns of Minnesota and Wisconsin and the broader economic opportunities of the Chicago corridor.

At the Great River Rail Commission, our long-range vision has always been that a successful Borealis would make the case for what comes next — faster service, greater frequency, and an additional daily round trip that could serve an estimated 124,000 more passengers each year. The ridership success we’re celebrating today validates that vision.

For communities along the River Route, this isn’t an abstract policy debate. Passenger rail connects people — college students, seniors, workers and travelers who may not own a car or have easy access to an airport — to jobs, family, healthcare and opportunity. Stations are in downtowns, not on the outskirts of cities. The benefits are real and local.

But progress requires sustained investment. The Borealis succeeded because Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Amtrak, Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern Railway, the federal government and local partners committed to making it work together. That same commitment will be required to expand service further. We need our legislators to hear clearly: the demand is there, the economic case is strong, and the time to build on this momentum is now.

Chris MeyerChair, Great River Rail Commission