From Capitol News Service

An online transportation forum is trying to promote improvements in railroad systems throughout the state.

The website, called michiganbyrail.org, is intended to see what people in different regions want when it comes to improving rails, according to Tim Fischer, deputy policy director at the Michigan Environmental Council (MEC).

In addition to the online site, there were 18 public forums around the state.

“In every forum, we found people were interested in expanding the railroad system,” Fischer said.

Read more: http://capitalnewsservice.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/forums-promote-better-railroad-access/

From The Lansing State Journal

Rep. Mike Rogers wanted even deeper cuts in this year’s federal budget than those agreed to by House Republicans last week. But he parted with most Republicans in backing funding for Amtrak and for the National Labor Relations Board.

Those are some of the Howell Republican’s spending priorities revealed by last week’s unusual, free-wheeling debate over a spending bill in which 125 amendments were considered.

Read more: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/201102240400/NEWS04/102240340

From the Battle Creek Enquirer

Rep. Tim Walberg wanted even deeper cuts in this year’s federal budget than those agreed to by House Republicans last week. But he parted with most Republicans in backing funding for Amtrak and the National Labor Relations Board.

Those are some of the Tipton Republican’s spending priorities revealed by last week’s unusual, free-wheeling debate over a spending bill in which 125 amendments were considered.

He was among 60 Republicans who joined all Democrats in defeating a move to cut $447 million from Amtrak. And he was among 60 Republicans who joined all Democrats in stopping an effort to kill the National Labor Relations Board, which mediates conflicts between employees and their bosses.

Read more: http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20110227/NEWS01/102270321/1002/Walberg-Cut-deeper-don-t-derail-Amtrak

From The Metro Times

Despite all the hype and hope for light rail along Detroit’s Woodward corridor, there are major questions of funding. And there is also the daunting legacy of decades of mass transit hopes that haven’t left the station.

The current plans are moving forward for a light rail train, the first leg to be constructed largely with private funds and running from downtown to New Center with connections to the downtown People Mover, the Amtrak station and city and suburban bus lines.

No formal plan for funding the new light rail system’s operation has been put forward — yet — and more questions concern the track’s second leg, which would continue to Eight Mile Road.

While transit advocates are hosting public informational meetings this month, the Bing administration is quietly, behind the scenes, shaping plans for funding both construction of the second leg and then operating the entire line with a combination of a local bond issue and hoped-for but as-yet-unsecured state and federal grants.

Read much more at: http://metrotimes.com/news/might-rail-1.1109031

From the Birmingham Eccentric

The Federal Railroad Administration is about to give away nearly $8.5 million in federal stimulus money on a project that is knee-deep in question marks.

That’s the implication of court depositions in the lawsuit being waged over the Troy-Birmingham Transit Center.

Grand Sakwa Properties is suing the city of Troy to stop the center from being built, with concerns about parking, security, maintenance and other related issues that could crop up from allowing an unmanned facility directly adjacent to its Midtown Square property at Coolidge and Maple.

Read more: http://www.hometownlife.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011102040315