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VIDEO: Presentations by MDOT & Amtrak from MARP “virtual” meeting on July 9, 2020
MARP’s first ever “virtual” meeting on 09 July 2020 featured speakers from MDOT and Amtrak. Al Johnson, Acting Director of the MDOT Office of Rail, gave an update on the work in progress and planned on the Wolverine line to allow 110-mph speeds and, eventually to add up to 7 daily round trips. Derrick James, Amtrak Government Affairs, spoke about Amtrak’s plans for future growth, its digitization initiatives, and how advocates can make a difference.
Watch and listen to the video here:
Click here for a PDF of the presentation: MDOT Update for MARP Meeting 2020.07.09
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MARP Virtual Meeting Scheduled for July 9 at 6:30 p.m. EDT
| A First . . . MARP VIRTUAL MEETING Thursday, July 9 6:30 – 8:00 pm |
|
ALL ARE WELCOME
Please plan to join in the discussion of current developments in inter-city passenger transportation including how systems are dealing with COVID-19 challenges. We will hear from Al Johnson, Acting Director, MDOT Office of Rail, who will update us on continuing work on the Michigan Line and the status of the Midwest equipment order. Derrick James, Amtrak Government Affairs, will have news on the national front, including a proposal to create a National Passenger Rail Trust Fund.
If you have not used Zoom before, plan to to click the above link at 6:00 pm for help in getting started and learning to use the features. |
Grand Rapids-Chicago Amtrak Pere Marquette trains return June 29-30, 2020
Beginning June 29 and 30, Amtrak and the Michigan Department of Transportation are restoring the daily Pere Marquette round-trip trains between Grand Rapids and Chicago in response to anticipated demand. This Amtrak MidwestSM service was temporarily suspended on March 21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The train will originate in Chicago on June 29 and both Trains 370 & 371 will operate starting June 30. Train 370 departs Chicago at 6:30 p.m., St. Joseph/Benton Harbor at 9:14 p.m., Bangor at 9:50 p.m., Holland at 10:33 p.m. and arrives in Grand Rapids at 11:34 p.m. Train 371 departs Grand Rapids daily at 6:00 a.m., Holland at 6:49 a.m., Bangor at 7:32 a.m., St. Joseph/Benton Harbor at 8:10 a.m., arriving in Chicago at 9:08 a.m. All times Eastern, except Chicago, which is in the Central Time Zone. Business Class and café service will also be available.
Amtrak continues to take extra steps to keep train travel safe, including limiting bookings to less than half of capacity to maintain physical distancing onboard trains. Reservations are required for Amtrak trains on this route, excluding holders of Multi-Ride Tickets. Ticketing is now available on Amtrak.com, our mobile apps or by calling 800-USA-RAIL.
“We are dedicated to doing everything possible to return service safetly. We want everyone to feel comfortable as they navigate this new normal,” said Amtrak President and CEO Bill Flynn.
In addition to aggressive steps to disinfect stations and trains, additional Amtrak measures deliver a New Standard of Travel by including the following:
- Facial coverings: As part of Amtrak’s ongoing commitment to protect customers and front-line employees in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Amtrak is requiring that all customers in stations, on trains and Thruway Buses wear facial coverings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of simple cloth facial coverings or masks to slow the spread of the virus and prevent transmission.
- Cashless service: As an added measure to ensure the health and safety of our customers and employees, we are temporarily accepting only cashless payments in stations and on trains.
- Physical distancing: Signage has been displayed at our busiest stations to indicate safe distances in high customer traffic areas such as waiting rooms, ticket offices, base/top of escalators, lounge entrances, etc. In addition, clear protective barriers have been installed at stations where there were no barriers.
Amtrak continues to evaluate practices and pilot new opportunities to support personal safety. Visit Amtrak.com for more information about how Amtrak is maintaining a safe environment.
Source: https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9620-532838–,00.html
