Category Archives: Announcements

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Announcements, Meetings

MARP June 2015 Meeting Includes a Variety of Activities at Flint’s Crossroads Village

Huckleberryrailroad-subheaderThe next MARP membership meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2015, at Crossroads Village near Flint. Don Wescott, MARP’s meetings coordinator, has been busy planning a variety of interesting activities following the 10 a.m. business meeting. Members are urged to bring their families and friends and plan to spend the day.

We will gather promptly at 10 a.m. at the Flint Township Meeting Hall in the Crossroads Village (directions below) for a brief business meeting. Following adjournment, we will shift our attention to the many interesting things to do and see at the Crossroads Village.

Folks may wish to have lunch at either the Café on Main Street or the Lakeside Grill located near the Carousel beside Mott Lake. There will be time for a stroll around the Village before the 2 p.m. “All Aboard” signal for a ride on the Huckleberry Railroad. Led by a Baldwin steam locomotive, the train makes an 8-mile loop through the 4500 acre Genesee Recreation Area.

 Crossroads Village was developed as a Bicentennial project. Most of the buildings were rescued from demolition from areas mostly in Genesee County and were moved onto farm land adjacent to the old Pere Marquette line that ran up into the Thumb. The original tracks were converted from standard gauge to 3 ft. narrow gauge to accommodate the vintage equipment that came mainly from Colorado. The engines are coal-fired steam engines and cars are maintained and all restoration of the equipment is done on site.

An added bonus of our visit will be a tour – led by MARP member Dan Mitchell and his colleague Bill Simmons – of the Restoration and Engine House where the rail equipment is maintained.

For information about the Village and its attractions, visit the website geneseecountyparks.org/pages/crossroads. The website includes a link to local accommodations should you wish to make a weekend of it. Don has negotiated a $5.00 entrance fee (a significant discount) for MARP members and their guests. This includes the train ride.

The address for Crossroads Village is 6140 Bray Rd, Flint MI 48505. Park in the parking lot. Enter the Village grounds and turn left on Railroad Street. You will find The Flint Township Meeting Hall at the end of the street. The Flint Township Meeting Hall is #28 on the Village Map.

Don would appreciate knowing how many plan to attend in order to set up enough chairs in the meeting hall and to seat us together in the railcar. Please send an email to marprail@yahoo.com

Announcements, FYI

Wolverine Train 350 Will Not Stop at Troy, MI – Monday through Saturday Only

Effective through June 20, 2015

Due to summer schedule changes required by track improvements in Indiana and Michigan, Train 350 will not stop at Troy on Monday through Saturday, through June 20, 2015.

While service is suspended at Troy, passengers can make reservations at alternate stations including Dearborn, Detroit, Royal Oaks and Pontiac.

Trains Serving Troy

During this period, Train 350 will stop at Troy on Sundays, and all other Wolverine trains will continue to offer daily service at Troy.

Reservations and the most up-to-date schedules are available on Amtrak.com, free mobile apps and at 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

Announcements, FYI, News

In case you haven’t noticed, Amtrak’s Pere Marquette is on a new schedule

Amtrak press release:

A new schedule for the Amtrak Pere Marquette will make it more convenient for passengers to attend sports, music and theatre events in Chicago and result in eight to 10 jobs being based in Grand Rapids, Mich.,effective May 4, 2015. The new schedule (attached) also improves connections with other Amtrak trains.

The current schedule allows a six-hour day in Chicago and was crafted for Chicago-based crew cycles. Last year’s opening of the Vernon J. Ehlers Station allowed for the creation of a crew base in downtown Grand Rapids and a nine-hour day for passengers to work or play in Chicago.

Amtrak employed 237 Michigan residents last year, with total wages of $19.5 million. Goods and services purchased in Michigan by Amtrak totaled $17.3 million in 2014.

All Amtrak service in Michigan is operated under a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

Amtrak-Pere-Marquette-Schedule-Change-ATK-15-024-2

Announcements, FYI, Meetings, News

Washtenaw and Livingston Commuter Rail (WALLY) Feasibility Study community meeting scheduled March 30, 2015

The North-South Commuter Rail (WALLY) is a proposed 27-mile long commuter rail service that would connect Ann Arbor and Howell, with intermediate stops along the way. It is being evaluated as a way to improve mobility along US-23 and to promote economic development and job creation in the region.

A feasibility study is being undertaken by the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority (AAATA) to assess in detail the feasibility of the North-South Commuter Rail service. This federally-funded study will take about 15 months to complete and will consist of distinct phases and tasks that have been identified in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The results of this assessment, which includes in-depth public and stakeholder involvement, will be used to determine project costs, ridership, potential station locations, and the capacity and willingness of the affected communities to build, operate and help fund the project. If the project is found feasible, the study will help to prepare the project for future federal funding.

Two community meetings have already been held, one on March 12th at the Brighton Community Center and one on March 16th at the Ann Arbor District Library. A third meeting has been scheduled for:

Monday, March 30, 6:30-8:30 PM
Bennett Recreation Center
925 W. Grand River
Howell, MI

The intent of these meetings is to provide an update on the status of the North-South Commuter Rail (WALLY) project and an overview of the feasibility study. There will be a presentation at the beginning of the meeting followed by discussion to answer questions and obtain public input on the project and the process. The presentation and format will be the same for all three meetings.

In addition to the meetings, an interactive website has been established and your participation is encouraged (www.nsrailstudy.com). For additional information, please contact Michael Benham at AAATA at (734) 794-1851 or mbenham@theride.org.

Announcements, FYI

Here’s where to look for updates on the M-1 Rail project in Detroit

An artist's rendition of the completed M-1 Rail project.
An artist’s rendition of the completed M-1 Rail project.

M-1 Rail is posting weekly constructions updates on its website, Facebook page and Twitter feed. There is even an option to receive weekly updates via email. Visit their website at http://m-1rail.com for more information.

M-1 RAIL is a non-profit organization formed in 2007 to lead the design, construction, and future operation of a 3.3-mile circulating streetcar along Woodward Avenue between Congress Street and West Grand Boulevard in Detroit, Michigan.

Once completed, there will be a stop at the Detroit Amtrak station.

M-1 RAIL is an unprecedented public-private partnership and model for regional collaboration Notably, the first major transit project being led and funded by both private businesses, philanthropic organizations, in partnership with local government, the State of Michigan, and U.S. Department of Transportation.

The mission of M-1 RAIL is to create a catalyst for investment, economic development and urban renewal that positively impacts the entire region through the construction of a streetcar circulator system running along and connecting Woodward Avenue from the Riverfront to the New Center and North End neighborhoods

The M-1 RAIL Woodward Avenue Streetcar project is envisioned to be one element of a future modern, world-class regional transit system where all forms of transportation, including rail, bus, vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian, are considered and utilized to build a vibrant, walkable region that includes a thriving Downtown Detroit. This city center is envisioned by supporters of M-1 RAIL to become a foundation for growth and prosperity throughout the surrounding neighborhoods adjacent to the Central Business District, Midtown, New Center and North End.