The federal Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008 (PRIIA) requires states to prepare state rail plans in order to receive federal rail grants. The Michigan Department of Transportation is in the early stages of putting Michigan's rail plan together, but public participation and input is required for a successful state rail plan.
To that end, the Michigan Environmental Council and the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers are hosting a series of public Michigan By Rail forums across the state. The forums are intended to begin the discussion of what our future passenger rail system should look like and how it should operate. The forums will include:
- An overview of the state's existing rail system
- An interactive rail mapping session
- A discussion of public financing issues for rail projects and service
- A statewide vision for freight, intercity passenger and commuter rail
A few have already happened but most are still upcoming. You should probably check their current schedule before heading to a forum, but here are the dates as of now:
- (Jul 22) Traverse City, (Aug 19) New Buffalo
- (Aug 26) Jackson
- (Sep 8 or 9) St. Joseph/Benton Harbor
- (Sep 15) Dearborn
- (Sep 22-24) Holland
- (Oct 14) Grand Rapids
- (Oct 27-29) Detroit
- (Nov 17-19) Kalamazoo
- (Dec 2) Muskegon
- (Dec 7-9) Ann Arbor
The Michigan train slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool has some great shots of rail & trains, and if you want to get a sense of what railroads have meant to Michigan, check out Tracks Through Time, the Delta College/PBS documentary of the history of railroads in Michigan:
3 Comments
I will not be in MI for the TC forum but would like to add my 2 cents to this discussion.
I am 100% in favor of railroads for both passengers and goods. I would be willing to pay higher taxes to implement railroads from and to TC to include travel in all directions but especially points south (such as to Lansing, Jackson, and Ann Arbor). Trains - the sooner the better.
Lindy Barnes
Lake Ann, MI
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No meetings in the Upper Peninsula? What are we? Chopped liver?
Consider: Ironwood-Houghton-Marquette-Sault St.Marie-St. Ignace and Ironwood-Escanaba-St. Ignace
Passenger rail is needed...
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You should really contact someone associated with these forums. I didn't notice it when we posted the article.
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