Amtrak station estimate soars by 110%
Construction estimate now $8.2 million, not including $1.5 million office remodeling for Marquette team; no drive thru restaurant

Feb. 11, 2005 -- The estimated cost of the downtown Intermodal station has soared from $3.9 million to $8.2 million, a 110% increase, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.

DOT spokeswoman Peg Schmitt said, however, that the department had not yet approved spending the full $8.2 million.

storyhill.net reported last month that the cost estimate had increased from about $4 million to $5.7 million, and that the webteam was seeking more information from WisDOT.

Schmitt responded to our questions last week. Here, in full, are storyhill.net's questions and her answers.

Q. Is (the $5.7 million) still the best estimate?

A - The contract signed by WisDOT and the Milwaukee Intermodal Partners (MIP) development team in October of 2003 called for a total project cost of $3.9 million. Following planning work and discussions with tenants, MIP has identified a new total project cost of $8.2 million for the build-out of the Amtrak station and adjoining parcel. MIP cites changes to the project scope to accommodate Greyhound bus service, to improve the west parking area and to make other capacity improvements needed for Amtrak service. MIP has presented these new costs to WisDOT, but the department has not yet approved the costs.

Q. Is the project fully-funded? If so, how? If not, what's the plan?

A - The original contract in October of 2003 was fully funded with $2.5 million in Federal Transit Administration grants for the state's share, and a $1.4 million contribution from MIP. In presenting the new $8.2 million cost, MIP has proposed that the additional costs be covered by a $1.55 million contribution from MIP with the remaining $2.75 million provided by the state. The state is examining possible sources, including federal funds, to cover MIP's proposal. However, the state has not yet agreed to the new cost and funding needs identified by MIP.

Q . Is the $5.7 million over and above the $1.5 million spent on the place by
the Marquette team?

A - The WisDOT / MIP contract to renovate the passenger areas of the station is completely separate from any contracts and/or work performed by the Milwaukee Transportation Partners and WisDOT to build out office space on the 3rd floor.

Q. Are plans still alive for a Wendy's drive thru?

A. The concept for a drive-through window had only been raised by the MIP development team in discussions with potential retail clients. WisDOT management recognized some weeks ago that this concept is not acceptable to the community, and has directed MIP to drop consideration of the drive-through.

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Spend millions and get a ...Wendy's drive-thru??!!!
Downtown Amtrak station
may bust its budget, memos show

Jan. 25, 2005 -- A Wendy's fast food drive thru restaurant may be the major tenant of the renovated downtown Amtrak station if the project ever gets done, records show.

In addition, the project's construction cost may well exceed the original budget of about $4 million, according to Wisconsin Department of Transportation records reviewed last week,

The webteam has asked DOT to provide additional information about the project.

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"The latest figures from CG Schmidt indicate a total cost of $5,701,069," according to an October memo written by Kerry Avrit of Wilton Partners, one of the firms involved in the project.

Avrit raised concerns about finances again in November: "Two outstanding issues on this site are still WisDOT finding some additional funds for the project and assisting us to obtain the alderman's support."

Avrit's memo referred to Ald. Robert Bauman, who has opposed some of WisDOT's plans for the station and has held up approvals needed before it can proceed.

A December Avrit memo also raised the money issue: "We understand that WisDOT currently estimates a transfer of funds to satisfy the capacity improvements in mid-January."

The possibility of Wendy's tenancy is discussed in the same memo: "We are delighted to report that there is one user that is very interested in renting all of the retail portions of this site, including a Wendy's drive-thru."

The firm may have more than a single restaurant in the station, Avrit wrote in November."We are encouraged that Wendy's is very interested in this site for a fast food restaurant, a coffee shop, and maybe even a convenience store."

WisDOT already has spent $1.5 million remodeling the third floor of the station into office space for the Marquette Interchange Project team of consultants and DOT employees.

When the Amtrak renovation is done, it is supposed to allow integration of Amtrak's passenger train service, Greyhound bus service, and the County Transit System.