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News

Editorial: Investing in rail makes sense as demand soars

From the Detroit Free Press:

A balanced national transportation system requires high-speed rail lines that connect the nation’s major cities. With gas prices soaring, people are driving less and looking for less stressful alternatives to congested freeways and airports. The federal government must continue to help metropolitan areas build and maintain transit systems — including trains — that reduce congestion, get people to jobs, improve air quality and conserve energy.

The Obama administration is investing in urban regions, including Detroit-Chicago, with sufficient population density to make train travel practical and efficient. The administration has wisely spent more than $2.5 billion for Midwest Regional High Speed Rail Service projects that will connect Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and other Midwest metros.

Projects all over the country are moving forward. Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo brought more good news this month to metro Detroit, where he helped kick off the construction of the $28.2-million Dearborn train station, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Szabo told the Free Press editorial page that he expects nearly 80% of the Detroit-Chicago line to run at sustained speeds of 110 m.p.h. by 2015, reducing one-way travel time by nearly two hours. So far, the Federal Railroad Administration has approved 110-m.p.h. speeds on only 80 miles of track in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. The next step is boosting speeds on 135 miles of track between Kalamazoo and Dearborn that the state is buying from Norfolk Southern for $140 million.

Amtrak has worked for more than a decade to raise top speeds between Detroit and Chicago. When high-speed rail service covers the entire 280-mile corridor, travel time by train will drop to 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Train travel is most practical for trips within 500 miles, as commute times and costs compare favorably with air or car travel. Train ridership has reached record levels in Michigan and other states. Ridership on the Chicago-St. Louis line, for example, has more than doubled in five years.

“It’s happening with service that is not yet stellar,” Szabo said, adding that with improved reliability and speed “ridership is just going to explode.” For that to happen, though, customer service and reliability must get better. Fast trains won’t help much if they don’t leave the station on time.

Anyone who travels by train between Detroit and Chicago knows that trains are habitually late. Rest rooms are not always clean — nor are railroad staff always courteous. If these basic problems aren’t fixed, travelers with options will continue to bypass trains.

Szabo said on-time performance must reach 95% or better. On-time performance should improve markedly with track improvements, less interference with freight carriers, and better equipment. New state-of-the-art coaches and cafes will start appearing in late 2014, along with high-speed locomotives and attractive intermodal train stations.

A new passenger intermodal rail station in Dearborn is one piece of the puzzle. With gas prices on the rise, that’s good news for Americans who want — and need — a more balanced transportation system that’s reliable, convenient and comfortable.

Source: http://www.freep.com/article/20120417/OPINION01/204170316/Editorial-Investing-in-rail-makes-sense

Minutes

Meeting Minutes – April 21, 2012 – Chelsea

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
MICHIGAN CENTRAL DEPOT, CHELSEA
APRIL 21, 2012

 Members Signing In: Doug Wilson, Dave Randall, John D. Langdon, Hugh Gurney, Kay Chase, Bob Tischbein, Steve T. Sobel, Dan Platz. Gerri Anderson, Don Monteith, Clark Charnetski, Dick Pekarek, Larry Krieg, Charles Merkel, Julien Wolfe, Jim Hinkins, Donna Tipton, Ron Tipton, Roger Webster, Steve Vagnozzi, John Guidinger, Janet Howes, John DeLora

 Also Present: Larry Bean, Robert D. Shannon, Charley Bonnell, Martha Wolfe, Joann Stoddart

 Call to Order:  The meeting was called to order at 11:00 a.m.  Those who had arrived during the Executive Committee meeting were asked to introduce themselves.

 Speaker:  Hugh Gurney introduced Robert D. Shannon, local railroad historian and member of the Chelsea Depot Association. 

 Shannon began his remarks by pointing to a blown up photo of Michigan Central’s Mercury taking water on the run from a water trough just east of Chelsea.  The Mercury made the trip from Detroit to Chicago in four hours during the 1940’s. 

 Shannon first reviewed the development of railroads in England and in the Eastern United States including the Baltimore and Ohio, first to cross the Alleghenies. 

 The Michigan Central was one of three state owned railroads planned to cross the state from East to West.  It reached Chelsea in 1841 and was built as far as Kalamazoo before the state ran out of money.  Initially, the railroad had no ballast and the ties were laid parallel to the rails.  Eventually, the state sold its interests to financiers James Joy, J. Brooks and John Forbes who completed construction.  Instead of continuing west from Kalamazoo to St. Joseph, the new owners built southwesterly to New Buffalo and eventually into Chicago.  Trains ran at about 20 mph and took 8-12 hours between Detroit and Chicago.  With the advent of the telegraph, train speed increased to around 30 mph.  Motive power was wood, purchased from local farmers along the right of way.

 The Michigan Central financed the Great Southern Railway of Canada, stretching from Windsor to Niagara Falls, where it crossed back into the United States on a suspension bridge built in 1857.  This Canadian connection permitted trains to make the trip from Detroit to New York City in 15 hours by 1937.

The present station is Chelsea’s third, built in 1880.  During that decade, eight trains a day stopped at the growing community.  The Glazier Stove Works was the first major industry.  Others followed.

By the 1940’s, only two trains a day were stopping in Chelsea.  The completion of I-94 killed any remaining passenger service.  Conrail wanted to tear depot down in the 1970’s.  Fortunately, the city was persuaded to purchase the structure.  Today, the depot is managed by the Chelsea Depot Association, which supports its preservation by renting it out for functions such as weddings, receptions, dinners and other events.

DeLora noted that MARP members including himself, John Guidinger and Clark Charnetski did extensive work on the Chelsea Depot during the summer of 1974.  MDOT had agreed that if repairs were made at no expense to MDOT, they would have the planned Jackson-Detroit Michigan Executive stop there.  The roof was re-shingled, broken windows repaired, rotted siding replaced, and the entire building scraped down to bare wood and repainted in mint green and forest green, the paint acquired from a friendly Penn Central Division Superintendent.  Brick walkways around the building were dug out.  Chelsea was a stop on the Michigan Executive  until the train was discontinued in 1979. 

Regional Chapter Reports (Continued)

            Metro Detroit:  Hinkins noted the passing of long time member Dietrich Bergmann.  DeLora will be proposing a memorial for him, probably at the next meeting.

 DeLora is preparing old Michigan Central timetables for the MARP web site.

No activity has been noted at West Detroit Junction.

 Mayor Bing has been invited to participate in National Train Day festivities at the Detroit Amtrak station on May 12. 

 Charnetski reported that the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority plans to issue an RFP for WALLY Station Design in the near future.  Despite the withdrawal of the University of Michigan from the Fuller Road Transportation Center, the city of Ann Arbor intends to confirm a contract for design of a station at that location near the University of Michigan Medical Center. UM will build its parking structure at a location about ¼ of a mile distant.

             West Michigan:  Work is now underway on the new Grand Rapids rail station, Langdon reported.  Westrain plans to involve Chambers of Commerce, Convention and Visitor Bureaus and municipal leaders in its promotion of the current Pere Marquette and a second daily frequency.  Langdon is working on securing grant funding for a community benefits study to bolster the cause for a second frequency. 

MDOT is supporting New Buffalo’s application for a TIGER grant to connect the Pere Marquette line with the higher speed Amtrak line just north of that community.  The grant application also calls for a long passing siding between Dowagiac and Niles.

Ridership on the Pere Marquette is increasing and the daily train now consists of five cars.

             East/Central Michigan:  Pekarek reported that repair of the water damage at Durand Union Station is now complete.  The westbound Blue Water continues to run ahead of schedule east of Battle Creek.

 Committee Reports:

            Amtrak Thruway Connection Committee:  Gurney reported that the Michigan Flyer is now operating four additional frequencies between Ann Arbor and Detroit Metro Airport under and agreement with the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.  The new frequencies will originate at UM’s Central Transportation Center, then proceed to the Blake Transportation Center in downtown Ann Arbor and a stop at the Kensington Court Hotel before heading to the airport on I-94.  Michigan Flyer buses serving East Lansing will now stop at the Blake Transportation Center and the Kensington Court Hotel in Ann Arbor.  Michigan Flyer will no longer serve Jackson.

             Route Enhancement Committee:  Gurney reported on the status of Route Enhancement Goals for 2012.  One item not reported elsewhere during this or previous meetings is that a methodology for determining costs under PRIIA Section 209 has been proposed by Amtrak,  agreed to by almost all of the states involved and approved by the STB.  Indiana opposes the methodology and may appeal.  Ground breaking for the new Dearborn Transportation Center took place on April 10, 2012.  The Route Enhancement Committee will meet today over lunch at Cleary’s Pub.

             Toledo Train Day:  Tischbein, Gurney, Newell, Leatz, Hinkins, Langdon and Wilson will help staff a MARP table at this event on May 5.  Several members of this group will also help staff the Amtrak 40th Anniversary train on display there.

            Port Huron/Sarnia Blue Water Committee:  Wilson reported that a new Port Huron station near the location of the current station has been decided upon for several logistical reasons including proximity to the main CN tracks.  He submitted a detailed way finding plan to help passengers find the station.

             Outreach:  Tischbein distributed a copy of the Outreach Schedule as it exists right now.  He asked for volunteers to help staff National Train Day events at several locations on May 12.  Charnetski noted that he will put his efforts into the Ann Arbor Green Fair scheduled for June 8 rather than an event at the Ann Arbor Amtrak station on May 12.

            National Train Day:  Langdon reported that Tim Fischer is working to have both the Michigan Senate and the Michigan House of Representatives issue proclamations supporting National Train Day.

 

Adjournment:  The meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                             Accepted:

 

 

 

 

Hugh D. Gurney                                                         Robert Tischbein

Secretary                                                                     Chair

Minutes

Meeting Minutes – Executive Committee — April 21, 2012 – Chelsea

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
MICHIGAN CENTRAL DEPOT, CHELSEA
APRIL 21, 2012

 Members Present: Robert Tischbein, Hugh Gurney, Dave Randall, John Langdon, Don Monteith, Kay Chase, Jim Hinkins

 Also Present:  Doug Wilson, Steve T. Sobel, Larry Bean, Gerri Anderson, Clark Charnetski, Dick Pekarek, Larry Krieg, Robert T. Shannon, Charles Merckel, Martha Wolfe, Julien Wolfe, Donna Tipton, Ron Tipton, Roger Webster, Steve Vagnozzi, Charley Bonnell, John Guidinger, Janet Howes, Joann Stoddart

 Call to Order:  Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. All in attendance were asked to introduce themselves and their particular interest in passenger rail.

 Secretary’s Report:  Minutes of the March Executive Committee Meeting and the March General Membership Meeting were reviewed.  Langdon moved acceptance of the minutes of the March Membership Meeting.  Monteith seconded the motion and these minutes were approved by the members present.

 Langdon then moved acceptance of the March Executive Committee minutes.  Chase seconded the motion and it was approved by the members present.

 Treasurer’s Report:  Randall passed out the Treasurer’s Report.  As of March 31, 2012, the MARP checking account totaled $10,762.58 and the Pratt Fund had a value of $16,766.37.  Randall noted that $2,500 of the grant from TRANS4M had been received.  TRANS4M expenses are recorded as they are paid.

 Langdon moved acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report, seconded by Gurney.  Acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report was approved by the members present.

 In response to a question from Chase, Randall stated that he was reviewing the possibility of moving the Pratt Fund to a Vanguard account.  Fees would be much lower.  He will make a formal recommendation in the near future.

 Coordinator Reports:

            Government Affairs:  Langdon distributed the current Amtrak Passenger Service Announcement detailing schedule changes during track work on the Wolverine line.  The track work should be completed in the next two weeks.

 Michigan can expect to receive twenty of the 130 bi-level coaches to be ordered in October, 2012.  GE is pushing to hold speed of the new locomotives to 110 mph. The first of the new coaches and the new locomotives are expected to go into service in 2015.

 With luck, the Regional Transportation Authority bill could come to the floor of the Michigan Senate next week.  The primary bill has been reported out of committee.  Questions about zoning authority and the provision for unanimous consent on rail projects are holding up other sections of the proposal.  Washtenaw County is balking because state and federal money it now receives directly would go through the RTA.  Because the equipment used for the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter trains may be stored in Jackson, there is some thought that Jackson County should be added to the RTA.

 Krieg reported that Washtenaw County might withdraw from the current RTA proposal.  It is working to become an independent Metropolitan Transportation Organization or MPO.

The Surface Transportation Board has received a petition from MDOT requesting permission to acquire the Dearborn-Kalamazoo sections of Norfolk Southern sometime between April 30 and May 31.  The Wayne Yard and the Willow Run Yard are excluded from the acquisition.  Apparently, yards in Jackson and Battle Creek would go to MDOT.

            Communications:  Chase noted the need to get word out about existing train service in our communities.  She will be reviewing with Larry Sobczak the agreement for editing the newsletter.

            Membership: Reporting for Newell, Chase stated that membership renewals were trailing off and a second renewal notice should go out soon.  An invitation to NARP members not currently MARP members is in the works.

            Meetings:  Reporting for Wallington, Gurney announced that the next meeting would take place at 10:00 a.m. on June 16 at the Muskegon Union Station in Muskegon.

Regional Chapter Reports:

Northern: Monteith expressed concern that the historic railroad ferry, S.S. Badger, could be shut down at the end of December, 2012, because it continues to dump toxic ash into Lake Michigan.  The vessel was constructed by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad as a railroad car ferry between Ludington and several points on the western shores of Lake Michigan.  It currently ferries autos, trucks, buses, and heavy equipment between Ludington, Michigan, and Manitowoc, Wisconsin, during the spring, summer and fall months.  Plans are in the works for conversion of the ship to natural gas, but that is expensive and will take time. A committee including Monteith, Chase, Gurney and Larry Bean of the Chelsea Depot Association will review the most suitable response for MARP. A major question is whether the ash can be unloaded and sold to someone or trucked to a suitable land fill until the natural gas conversion is complete. 

The Executive Committee Meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                             Accepted:

 

 

 

Hugh D. Gurney                                                         Robert Tischbein

Secretary                                                                     Chair

News

How the funding works with a regional transit authority for Southeast Michigan

From AnnArbor.com:

According to the diagrams in the fact sheet, the RTA would become the designated recipient of all federal funding coming into the region, and in turn that money would be disbursed by the RTA to local agencies like Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, SMART and DDOT.

 

Each local agency would receive federal formula funding in amounts as if it had applied independently, so formula funds earned by one agency’s ridership could not be diverted to another agency, according to the fact sheet. In a similar manner, the RTA would become responsible for distributing state funding coming into the region for local agencies.

But a proposed rolling rapid transit system is not eligible for state operating assistance funds, so it would not reduce the amount of funding available to other agencies in the state.

SB 911 would enable the RTA to levy either a special property tax or vehicle registration fee of no more than $1.20 per $1,000 of vehicle value, which is estimated to be $40 a year on the average vehicle. Any funding raised by the RTA from those sources would require voter approval by a majority of voters across the four-county transit region.

The regional fee would be the primary funding source for the regional rapid transit network, but also could be used to support local service.

Separately from the RTA legislation, SB 910 would allow counties to impose a vehicle registration fee not to exceed $1.80 per $1,000 of vehicle value for transportation purposes.

That also would require voter approval. If the county is in the RTA, the maximum fee the county could impose would be reduced by the amount of the RTA’s vehicle registration fee.

The RTA wouldn’t gain any control over locally provided funds such as the transit taxes that Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti residents pay for current AATA service.

Conan Smith, chairman of the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners and executive director of the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, said it’s not yet clear what the Ann Arbor implications are with amendments being kicked around, but it’s safe to say that AATA’s revenue streams are protected and the opportunity to seamlessly connect into a regional system is built in.

Source: http://www.annarbor.com/news/how-the-funding-works-with-a-regional-transit-authority-for-southeast-michigan/