The Amtrak Interstate 41 Thruway bus service connecting Green Bay and Milwaukee will end on Oct. 1 after its funding was cut.
According to a statement from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), the shutdown follows a contractual dispute between the state and the service provider, as a deal couldn’t be reached. Officials cited that the 2025-27 biennial budget did not have adequate resources to keep it operational.
“Governor Evers requested over $15 million in additional funding to support potential passenger rail expansion as well as existing passenger rail-related operations, including this bus service, in his state budget proposal,” the statement said.“Ultimately, the legislature provided zero new dollars to support passenger rail-related operations.”
The bus service, which includes a stop at Gruenhagen Conference Center on the UW Oshkosh campus, has provided two daily trips since 2019. These buses were timed to ensure connection with the Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha Service at the Milwaukee Intermodal Terminal and included stops in De Pere, Fond du Lac and Appleton.
UW-Green Bay Urban and Regional Planning professor Marcelo Cruz said he was disappointed by the news, but not surprised. Cruz said this announcement is the latest thing to happen in a larger trend of transportation funding being cut.
“I see northeast Wisconsin becoming more isolated, and you also have to ask about issues of equity,” Cruz said. “Who’s taking these buses?”
The end of the I-41 Thruway service marks a significant setback for those who relied on the convenient connection to the Hiawatha rail line. While other bus services exist between Green Bay and Milwaukee, they may not offer the same direct and timed connection to the train, potentially causing inconvenience for travelers.
A list of alternative bus services across the state, including service between Green Bay and Milwaukee, can be found on WisDOT’s website.
