From The Adrian Daily Telegram

The dust has still not settled from an attempted takeover of the Southern Michigan Railroad Society at its Nov. 14 board election.

Ballot counting that was expected to be completed shortly after Thanksgiving is being delayed by objections raised to the qualifications of almost every voter. The group reviewing the ballots is taking a Christmas holiday break without a single vote yet counted for the seven candidates for four director seats.

A group of local business and community leaders launched an effort to take control of the board of directors. The group’s spokesman, Tecumseh attorney Charles Gross, said local businesses and property owners have had problems with right of way and property access he said are caused by an uncooperative attitude of railroad society leaders.

The president of the Adrian and Blissfield Rail Road, Mark Dobronski, said he believes new leadership is needed to revive the vintage railroad operation he said is plagued by deteriorating tracks and equipment.

From The Michigan City News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY – Whether the 11th Street corridor or northern Amtrak route is the best for the South Shore commuter train continues to be a contentious issue heading into the new year.

It comes down to who’s defining “best” and who will fund additional engineering studies and, ultimately, the South Shore realignment.

The City Council passed a resolution Dec. 1 supporting the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District’s desire to move ahead with engineering studies. Both possible rail routes for the South Shore will be examined.

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=27751

From The Washington Post

CHICAGO — This city was built on railroads that moved meat from its famous packing houses, steel from its mills, corn from surrounding fields. Today Chicago is still the nation’s leading rail hub, with about 37,500 rail cars passing through daily.

From M-Live

A new $7-million transit center that will provide connections for trains, buses and taxis is slated to break ground in Troy next summer.
Plans for the Troy-Birmingham Multi-modal Transit Center are moving forward after Congress passed $1.3 million in federal appropriations last weekend to help construct the center, according to The Oakland Press.
http://www.mlive.com/business/detroit/index.ssf/2009/12/construction_planned_for_new_t.html