Category Archives: News

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News

Proposed commuter rail line scaled back, delayed

A proposed commuter rail line between Detroit and Ann Arbor has been scaled back and delayed indefinitely as supporters seek new funding to build and operate the system.
The future of the project is far from certain. Among the biggest obstacles: up to $50 million in additional money needed to build it, and long-term funding to operate it.

Organizers including the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments had hoped to have commuter rail between the two cities operating this fall. Now, the date is undetermined and depends on whether money can be raised through tax increases and possible federal grants, officials said this morning.

SEMCOG said it had hoped the system would be running by October. But earlier projections were based on a key $100 million federal grant the program won’t receive. SEMCOG said the project’s startup costs pushed costs per rider too high to meet federal funding requirements.

Read more:
http://www.freep.com/article/20100427/NEWS06/100427055/1320/Proposed-commuter-rail-scaled-back-delayed

News

WALLY isn’t dead but needs $10 million more for demonstration rail service, officials say

From AnnArbor.com

A proposed commuter rail line connecting Howell and Ann Arbor “isn’t dead,” a lead organizer said Monday, but about $10 million still needs to be raised before a demonstration service can begin.

Capital costs to start up the Washtenaw and Livingston Line, or WALLY, have been trimmed to between $16 million and $20 million, down from the $32.4 million price tag estimated by a consulting firm in 2008.

About half of the money has been secured, with much of it coming from the Michigan Department of Transportation, which is paying to renovate 15 former Chicago METRA rail coaches, improve portions of the 27 miles worth of track, and conduct the environmental assessment. That work is under way or planned to start soon.

Read more:
http://www.annarbor.com/news/wally-isnt-dead-but-needs-10-million-more-for-demonstration-rail-service-officials-say/

News

Niles Depot to celebrate National Train Day

News coverage of MARP’s involvement in National Trail from The Niles Star:

The Amtrak station in Niles will join more than 100 others to honor the history of trains in America on the third annual National Train Day May 8.

The station, 598 Dey St., will host interactive and educational exhibits provided by the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers. An operating HO scale model train will also be on display, courtesy of the Cass County Model Railroad Club.

The event will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free to the public.

Read more:
http://www.nilesstar.com/2010/04/26/niles-depot-to-celebrate-national-train-day/

News

Fischer: Rail investments will help our planet

Opinion piece by MARP member and  East/Central Michigan Chair Tim Fischer appearing in the Lansing State Journal:
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20100422/OPINION02/4220324/-1/*/Fischer–Rail-investments-will-help-our-planet

Forty years ago, Americans celebrated the first Earth Day. New and startling images of our planet from space provided a unique perspective of our place in the universe and our role as stewards of this small speck of interstellar real estate.

Today we continue, haltingly, to find solutions that allow us to maintain a robust quality of life while protecting the finite natural resources that are being consumed in ever-increasing quantities.

There’s no magic silver bullet that will meet this challenge. Instead, we need multiple layers of solutions to dilemmas including our dependence on diminishing coal and oil reserves, global scarcities of fresh water, and increasing output of climate change pollution that threatens the futures of our children’s children.

In Michigan, we have ample opportunities to lead the nation and the world to a more sustainable future with burgeoning solutions including energy efficiency, renewable power and water conservation among others.

One of the most attainable, powerful solutions is both within our grasp and uniquely tailored to a state that has led the world in transportation solutions.

We need to move aggressively toward a high-speed railroad transportation system that connects our cities and towns, gets travelers quickly to their destinations, and moves cargo efficiently.

Our crumbling highway infrastructure, expensive road expansion appetite and congested streets are testimony to the need to move into a new era of transportation. This shift can drive the state’s moribund economy to new heights, reduce our dangerous reliance on fossil fuels and provide a transition to a bright new future that will help Michigan recapture some of the 900,000 auto industry jobs lost during recent years.

The groundwork has been laid.

Projects funded with federal high speed rail stimulus money that will make Michigan’s trains run consistently on time and faster begin in a few weeks. Gov. Jennifer Granholm has proposed a transportation budget that fully funds Michigan’s passenger rail program for the next fiscal year. The Legislature must approve it.

The state transportation department has begun work on the state rail plan. Tell them where Michigan’s passenger trains should travel.

Trains are more than just a convenient way to travel or move cargo. Trains contribute less pollution per mile than either cars or airplanes. Federal data show train travel is almost 20 percent more efficient than domestic airline travel and 28 percent more efficient than auto travel on a per-mile basis.

And freight trains are responsible for six to 12 times less pollution than trucks.

Numerous studies show huge economic benefits to towns and cities where train stations serve as magnets for travelers. For example, the East Lansing train station – a slightly improved warehouse in a difficult to access location – has an economic benefit for the area of about $3.5 million, according to a recent MDOT analysis (based on 2007 data).

Earth Day idealism, circa 2010, need not be some pie-in-the-sky utopian vision. It can be nuts-and-bolts jobs, efficient transport and pollution-slashing changes in the way we move people and products through the Great Lakes State.

Announcements, FYI, News, Press Releases

National Train Day 2010

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GET THE INSIDE TRACK at NATIONAL TRAIN DAY

National Train Day 2010On Saturday, May 8th, the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers (MARP) and fellow railroad organizations come together to celebrate the third annual National Train Day with family-friendly events across the state of Michigan.     

The celebration commemorates the 141st anniversary of the first transcontinental railroad’s inception by bringing to life the rich narrative of how trains have transformed America.     

Amtrak is using National Train Day to help raise awareness of the vital role rail plays in our nation’s transportation system. National Train Day spokesman is actor and avid train fan Taye Diggs, star of Private Practice.     

Amtrak is sponsoring major events in Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, D.C.. MARP and fellow railroad organizations have organized celebrations to take place in the following communities across Michigan (please see the below list for locations, times and festivities of each celebration). All events are on Saturday, May 8th at the respective cities’ Amtrak stations unless otherwise noted.   

City: Ann Arbor, Michigan 

Location: Amtrak Station – 325 Depot Street    

Time: 7:00am – 9:00am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Coffee and donuts will be available to both passengers and guests, and a proclamation will be read by the Mayor of Ann Arbor.    

City: Bangor, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 541 Railroad Street (former Pere Marquette station)     

Time: 8:00am – 4:00pm     

Sponsors: Beacon Specialized Living Services, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Holland Modular Railroad Club     

Description: Join us at the historic Pere Marquette (Amtrak) station as we celebrate National Train Day. The Mayor of Bangor will read a proclamation following the arrival of Amtrak train 371, the Pere Marquette. Enjoy live music, refreshments, raffles, an operating HO scale model train layout from the Holland Modular Railroad Club and so much more.   

City: Dearborn, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 16121 Michigan Avenue     

Time: 6:30am – 11:30am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Coffee and donuts will be provided, and a proclamation will be read by the Mayor of Dearborn.     

City: Detroit, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 11 West Baltimore Avenue     

Time: 6:48am – 11:23am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: National Train Day celebration and proclamation. Coffee and cake will be available to both passengers and guests throughout the morning. A proclamation will be presented to the Mayor just before noon.   

City: Dowagiac, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 200 Depot Dr. (historic Michigan Central station)     

Time: 10:00am – 4:00pm     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Stop by our open house at the depot to enjoy music from the local college and see displays by a model railroad club. Refreshments will be served.     

 City: Durand, Michigan ** Takes place May 15, 2010 **     

Location: Durand Union Station – 200 Railroad Street     

Time: 9:00am – 7:00pm     

Description: Celebrate 35 years of our railroad heritage at Railroad Days, May 14-16. The historical depot will be open with model train displays, Operation Lifesaver will have educational information for all, tours of the caboose are available, and there will be a book opening for Imre Questlar.     

City: East Lansing, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 1240 South Harrison Road     

Time: 8:00am – 10:00am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Join us for coffee and donuts and a reading of the National Train Day proclamation. 

City: Flint, Michigan 

Location: Amtrak Station – 1407 South Dort Highway     

Time: 6:30am – 1:00pm     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Celebrate National Train Day with us. Railroad displays, operating model railroads, Operation Lifesaver information, and refreshments will be available.     

City: Holland, Michigan  
Location: Padnos Transportation Center – 171 Lincoln Avenue
Time:  7:30am – 8:30am 
Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers
Description:  Come greet the morning Pere Marquette train and enjoy refreshments and a proclamation read by the Mayor of Holland. Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers 7:30am – 8:30am Padnos Transportation Center – 171 Lincoln Avenue   

 

City: Jackson, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 501 E. Michigan Avenue (historic Michigan Central station)     

Time: 8:30am – 2:00pm     

Sponsors: Central Michigan Model Railroad Club, Amtrak, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Join us as we celebrate National Train Day at “The Oldest Continuous Operational Railroad Designed and Built Passenger Train Station in the United States,” the historic Michigan Central Railroad (Amtrak) station in Jackson, Michigan. Don’t miss out on your chance to see trains, model trains, explore interactive and educational exhibits, trip planning and so much more.     

 City: Kalamazoo, Michigan    

Location(s): 485 N. Burdick Street (Kalamazoo Transportation Center) and 9336 N. Riverview Dr. (Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society facility)     

Time(s): 9:00am – 11:30am (Transportation Center), 12:00pm – 4:00pm (Model Railroad facility)     

Sponsors: Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Amtrak, Vicksburg Depot Museum, CK&S Railfan Festival     

Description: Join us as we celebrate National Train Day in the morning (9:00-11:30am) at the Kalamazoo Transportation Center (Amtrak station). Greet the arrival of Amtrak Wolverine trains 350 and 351 and Blue Water train 365 while exploring interactive and educational exhibits from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society, Vicksburg Depot Museum and Delton’s CK&S Railfan Festival. From the station, the celebration continues at the Kalamazoo Model Railroad Historical Society’s facility (12:00-4:00pm) as part of the groups Annual Open House. Don’t miss out on seeing model trains, a full size caboose and so much more.     

City: Niles, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 598 Dey Street (historic Michigan Central station)     

Time: 10:00am – 3:00pm     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Amtrak, Four Flags Garden Club, Niles DDA Main Street, Cass County Model Railroad Club     

Description: Join us at the historic 1892 Michigan Central Railroad station as we celebrate National Train Day. Greet the arrival of Amtrak train 365, the Blue Water, and Wolverine trains 350, 351 and 352 while exploring interactive and educational exhibits from the Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers, Four Flags Garden Club, Niles DDA Main Street, and the Cass County Model Railroad Club.     

City: St. Joseph, Michigan     

Location: Amtrak Station – 410 1/2 Vine Street (former Pere Marquette station)     

Time: 9:00 – 11:00am     

Sponsors: Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers     

Description: Come greet the morning Pere Marquette train and enjoy refreshments and a proclamation ready by the Mayor of St. Joseph.   

(not sponsored by MARP)
City: Rochester, Michigan     

 Other locations in Michigan     

Location: Oakland University (Meadow Brook Hall) – 2200 N. Squirrel Road     

Time: 11:30am – 2:30pm     

Description: On National Train Day, come to the Lunch & Learn at Meadow Brook Hall for a lecture about the Glancy Trains Collection at the Detroit Historical Museum. Lecture will feature John Lohmeier, President Meadow Brook Hall Squires, Meredith Long, Museum Services Coordinator of Meadow Brook Hall and Bob Cosgrove, Adjunct Curator of Glancy Trains at the Detroit Historical Museum. Complimentary tour of Meadow Brook Hall follows the lecture.     

Want to volunteer at any of the above events?     

Contact your MARP Editor. Your help is appreciated! MARP encourages its members to spread the word of the importance of passenger trains at the celebrations.