All posts by Carolyn Ulstad

Announcements, Meetings

Dec 11: MARP Virtual Event – MDOT Updates

Event via ZOOM
Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 6:00 PM

You are invited to “zoom in” on Thursday, 11 December 2025 at 6:00 PM to hear Alexzandria Elsea, MDOT Office of Rail, with an update on the status of the three Michigan improvement/expansion projects accepted into the Corridor ID Program established under the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law passed by Congress in 2021. The State of Michigan received 3 grants of $500,000 each to begin work
toward adding a new round trip on each of the existing services, the Wolverine, Blue Water, and Pere Marquette routes. In conjunction with this work, the Office of Rail is looking at possible restoration of
service to Windsor, Canada, as well as a proposed new Coast-to-Coast service that would connect Michigan’s three largest cities. There will be an opportunity for Q&A, but we ask that you submit, in advance, any questions you have to: MARP@MARP.org
We will also hear from MARP Chair Tom Fletcher and members of the Executive Committee on plans for the upcoming year, along with a general update on passenger rail in our state/region.

Join Zoom Meeting Here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82964669357?pwd=YbraIGFbn5TlDyUE21fTXrT2R5w88a.1

Meeting ID: 829 6466 9357
Passcode: 097083
Or Join By Phone: Dial 312 626 6799

REMEMBER: Send any questions you have to MARP@MARP.org

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MARP 2025 Bylaws Updates

In 2023 the MARP Executive Committee appointed a committee to update the MARP Bylaws. The Bylaws had last been revised at the Annual Meeting in 2022 to remove the provision that made Regional Chairs automatically members of the Executive Committee. It was felt that additional revisions should be made.  

Early on, the Committee decided that a general rewrite rather than a few changes should be made to make the document’s wording more uniform and to clarify ambiguities. 

The changes to the Bylaws will be voted on at the annual meeting on October 18th, 2025, at Noon at the Durand Union Station.

Relevant Documents:

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September 13: MARP Meeting in Royal Oak

General Membership Meeting
September 13, 2025 from 3:00-5:00 pm at the:
Royal Oak Public Library
222 E, 11 Mile Rd.
Royal Oak, Mi.48067

We are pleased to announce our September meeting in Royal Oak!

Our guest speaker will be Vidal Vasquez, a detective with the Amtrak Police Department. He will talk about the function and duties of the Amtrak police, the number of officers, areas of responsibility, and their power and legal authority. He will also share stories from his time protecting Amtrak passengers in Michigan and beyond.

Light refreshments will be served. A $5 donation is appreciated.

For those choosing to travel to the meeting aboard Wolverine Train #350, the library is located just two blocks west on 11 Mile Road from the Amtrak station. The meeting will conclude in time to depart on Wolverine #355.

The area is also served by SMART buses 430, 450, 460, 492, 730, 740, and FAST Woodward 461/462, as well as Troy/Clawson SMART Flex service.

Hope to see you there!
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August 12-14: Midwest Rail Conference

MRC Midwest 2025
“Railroads 200 Years – Learning from Past, Shaping the Future”
12-14 August 2025
University of Notre Dame

Organized for the first time since 2017, the combined Michigan/Midwest Conference brings together industry leaders, advocacy groups, academia and state organizations to discuss key issues shaping the region’s extensive rail network. Covering freight and passenger rail across states like Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Wisconsin, the conference explores a diverse range of topics, mixing speakers across stakeholder groups. This year’s conference will double up as the 2nd Annual Meeting for the National University Rail Center of Excellence (NURail CoE).

Keynote speakers include David Fink, nominated to head the Federal Railroad Administration (invited), Metra CEO James Derwinski, and Mabby Amouie, AVP of Enterprise Data and Analytics, Norfolk Southern Railroad. Eight technical sessions/panel discussions will feature industry, agency and academic experts across a variety of rail topics. Check out the preliminary program and register for the conference before early registration ends. Early
registration has been extended through July 18.

Complete Conference information is available on the website.
www.mtu.edu/mtti/rail/events/mrc/2025/