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News

Group tries to drum-up support for more passenger rail service

From WKAR

Supporters of passenger train service are trying to get more state funding for Amtrak and expand its operation in the state.

Michigan by Rail is holding a series of public forums across the state to garner support for a state-wide passenger train network. The group was in East Lansing Thursday night.

John DeLora is chairman of the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers. He says Amtrak’s passenger service is running near full capacity in the state.

DeLora says increased state spending on passenger rail service would create jobs.

A study conducted for the Michigan Transportation department shows Amtrak saves Michigan Communities $60 million a year. The state spends about $7 million a year on Amtrak.

Original source:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wkar/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1673201/reWorking.Michigan/Group.tries.to.drum-up.support.for.more.passenger.rail.service

News

Leadership allows Sault, Sudbury railway to continue

From The Sudbury Star

The “historic and unprecedented leadership” by the city is resulting in the continuation of the short line railway between Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury, one Sault councillor says.

City council received an update Monday describing “the little engine that could and would” and will see the closure of a deal that will see Huron Central Railway running the rail line for years to come.

Bill Therriault, a committee member involved in the negotiations that has resulted to an agreement in principal said he anticipates the Ontario Canada territorial base agreement to be signed shortly, paving the way for much needed infrastructure improvements on the railway.

“The finalization of the agreement is dependent on the agreement with the federal and provincial government. The agreements between the parties are in the hands of lawyers,” Therriault said.

The one-year agreement that was signed to buy time for the committee to find long term infrastructure funding expires Aug. 14.

The railway is of major importance to large industries like Essar Steel Algoma and Domtar, who are the two most important customers for the railway.

Read more:
http://sudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2646465

Announcements, News

MDOT Honors Indian Trails

From Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau

100 Years of Service Recognized

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan State Transportation Commission has honored Indian Trails, an Owosso-based motor coach company, for its 100th anniversary.

“Indian Trails is an important part of the transportation network in our state,” MDOT Chief Deputy Director Jacqueline Shinn said during the brief ceremony in which Indian Trails President Gordon Mackay was presented with a plaque recognizing the company’s service.

Shinn noted the third-generation family-owned motorcoach business carries one million passengers and travels four million miles annually. She also singled out the company’s Michigan Flyer service serving East Lansing, Jackson and Ann Arbor to and from Detroit Metro Airport.

“Since it began in 2006, Michigan Flyer has continued to grow with 270,000 riders utilizing the unique service,” Shinn said.

“We are proud of the relationship Indian Trails has and continues to have with MDOT,” Mackay said, commenting on the recognition. He accepted the plaque “on behalf of our 135 dedicated employees.”

Founded in 1910 by Cora and Wayne Taylor of Owosso, Michigan, Indian Trails was originally known as the Phillips-Taylor Livery Service and specialized in moving passengers and freight from the local Durand Union Train Depot to points around Shiawassee County. True pioneers in their field, the Taylors actually built some of their first autobuses.

A picture of Cora Taylor hangs in the Michigan Transportation Hall of Honor as one of the leaders in transportation in Michigan.

Today, Indian Trails operates some 54 state-of-the-art coaches from three modern facilities in Owosso, Kalamazoo, and Metro Detroit with daily services between Bay City and Chicago, as well as routes between Grand Rapids and St. Ignace, Bay City and St. Ignace, Lansing and St. Ignace, and all of the Upper Peninsula. For more information, visit www.indiantrails.com.

Indian Trails President Gordon Mackay (left) accepts a plaque honoring Indian Trails for 100 years of service from Michigan Department of Transportation Chief Deputy Director Jacqueline Shinn (center) and Michigan Transportation Commission Chairman Ted Wahby (right)

Meetings

MARP members meet in Durand July 10, 2010

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Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Member Meeting
Saturday, July 10, 2010
10:00 am – Noon

Durand Union Station
200 Railroad Street
Durand, MI 48429-1713
(989) 288-3561
http://www.durandstation.org

The July 10 MARP meeting will be held in historic Durand Union Station. One of the most photographed stations in the entire country, the Durand Station was built 106 years ago at the junction of the Ann Arbor and Grand Trunk lines. The station houses the Michigan Railroad History Museum which includes photos, artifacts, displays and an extensive archive of railroad historical documents.

In January of 2009 a frozen water pipe burst and caused extensive damage to the library and archives. Dan Brooks, President of the DUSI Board of Directors will tell us about the heroic efforts of a host of professionals and volunteers to not only save the collections, but to modernize and enhance the quality of the displays.

The meeting will include information on the upcoming Michigan Northern Arrow train excursion, the first-ever MARP meeting in the U.P. in September, and recent initiatives to enhance passenger train service in Michigan, including a proposal for late evening train out of Chicago, as well as a series of public meetings around the state to develop a State Rail Plan to guide future expansion.

Following lunch at a nearby restaurant, J.R. Valderas and others interested in being involved will reconvene in the station conference room for a National Train Day de-briefing and planning for next year’s event.

Others may want to spend the afternoon browsing the Museum or taking in the extensive model railroad exhibit also housed in the station. Or take a short drive to the Steam Railroading Institute in Owosso.

Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers

          Durand Union Station
          http://www.durandstation.org

          Model Railroad Exhibit
          http://www.durandstation.org/modelrr.html

          Steam Railroading Institute
          Owosso, Michigan
          (989)725-9464
          http://www.mstrp.com/

          Replacing The Diamond
          http://www.durandstation.org/diamond.html

Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers 

Announcements, FYI, Meetings

Michigan By Rail Forum scheduled for July 22 in Traverse City

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The Michigan By Rail Public Forum in Traverse City will be held on July 22, 2010 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The forum will be held at the Civic Center which is located at 121 West Civic Center Driver, Travese City, MI 49686.

Hosts for the Traverse City Michigan By Rail forum will include Michigan State Senator Jason Allen, State Reps. Wayne Schmidt, Dan Scripps, Darwin Booher and Traverse City Mayor Chris Bdzok.

The Great Lakes Central Railroad is offering an invite only train trip from Cadillac to Traverse City as part of the Michigan By Rail Public Forum in Traverse City. If you are interested in riding the train to Traverse City, contact Hanah Clark by July 16, 2010 at (231) 941-6684.

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.  Public participation and input is a requirement of a successful state rail plan.   

In the summer and fall, 2010, the Michigan Environmental Council, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and partner organizations will convene a series of public forums throughout the state in an effort to engage Michigan citizens in a discussion about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail system.    

For more information, visit our previous post at http://www.marp.org/?p=1985.
or the Michigan By Rail website at http://www.michiganbyrail.org.