Wisconsin's first rail line was built across the state, from Milwaukee to Prairie du Chien, in the 1850s. Communities soon began vying with one another to be included on proposed railroad routes. Several thousand farmers mortgaged property to buy railroad stock; the state had to rescue them from ruin when companies went bankrupt. By the late 1860s, two railroads—the Chicago and North Western, and the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul—had become dominant in the state. However, Chicago emerged as the major rail center of the Midwest because of its proximity to eastern markets. In 1920, there were 35 railroads operating on 11,615 mi (18,700 km) of track; by 1998, there were just 12 railroads operating on 4,347 rail mi (6,955 km) of track, with only 1,817 mi (2,907 km) for Class I lines. Nonmetallic minerals accounted for 23% of rail tonnage originating within the state in 2000; coal accounted for the largest percentage (51%) of rail tonnage terminating in the state. Amtrak provides passenger rail service to Milwaukee, La Crosse, Tomah, and several other cities throughout Wisconsin. As of 2003, the Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee fourteen trains daily.
As of 2000, Wisconsin had 112,362 mi (179.779 km) of public roadway, 95,709 mi (153,134 km) of which were rural. The private passenger vehicle continues to be the dominant mode of travel. In 2000, Wisconsin had 3,770,453 licensed drivers and 4,545,101 registered vehicles (2,526,849 automobiles and 1,825,056 trucks). Public transit includes large bus systems in Milwaukee and Madison. In 2000, Milwaukee County Transit System provided 71 million passenger trips annually, with an average of 237,000 passengers trips each weekday. Madison Metroprovided 10 million passenger trips annually, with an average of 35,000 passengers trips each weekday.
The opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959 allowed oceangoing vessels access to Wisconsin via the Great Lakes but failed to stimulate traffic to the extent anticipated. Overall, the state has 15 cargo-handling ports. The port of Superior (shared with Duluth, Minnesota) on Lake Superior is the busiest of all US Great Lakes ports. Its chief commodities are iron ore. Other important Wisconsin ports, all on Lake Michigan, are Milwaukee, Green Bay, Port Washington, Oak Creek, Manitowoc, and Sturgeon Bay; coal is the chief commodity. Overall, iron ore made up 25% of shipments originating in Wisconsin in 2000 and coal, 55%. On the Mississippi River, Prairie du Chien and La Crosse are the main ports. Ferry service across Lake Michigan is offered from Manitowoc to Ludington, Michigan.
As of 2000, Wisconsin had 443 public and private airports. Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport is the state's main air terminal; in 2000, there were 9 airports in the state providing commercial air service to 2,500 or more passengers annually; in addition, there were 11,275 active pilots in the state and 1,455 flight instructors.