MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
WITCH’S HAT DEPOT, SOUTH LYON
JUNE 11, 2011

Present:  Robert Tischbein, Barney Whittier, Dave Randall, Hugh Gurney, John Langdon, Kathleen Newell, Jim Hinkins, Kay Chase, Jim Wallington, Don Monteith

Members and Guests Present: Steve T. Sobel, Norma Ward, Clark Charnetski, Rich Vavra-Musser, Dan Platz, Diane Patterson, Robert Patterson, John Guidinger, Doug Wilson, Kim Powell, Bob Weinburger, Patricia, Tischbein, Sam Crowl, Larry Kreig, Larry Sobczak, Eli Cooper

Call to Order:  Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.  Member Steve Sobel was appointed timekeeper.

Treasurer’s Report:  Treasurer Randall circulated his report for review.  As of May 31, 2011, the checking account had a balance of $13,734.38 and the Pratt Fund was valued at $16,227.17.  Gurney moved to accept the report.  This was seconded by Newell and approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.

Secretary’s Report: The minutes of both the Executive Committee Meeting and the Monthly Membership Meeting held on April 16, 2011 at Millett Depot, Lansing, were reviewed.  Langdon moved acceptance, seconded by Newell.  The motion was approved by the members of the Executive Committee present.

Coordinator Reports:
Government/Public Affairs: Langdon passed out information about SB 4251 which would earmark a portion of the sales tax from motor fuels to state and local road programs. He also distributed summaries of where the various High Speed Rail projects stand at this time.  He noted that hearings on the Michigan State Rail Plan are being held during this time frame and passed out information on when and where these are scheduled.

Communications:  Chase called attention to the Railroad History Conference to be held in Kalamazoo on November 5.  She expressed pleasure that the Kalamazoo Gazette had carried three separate articles about rail issues during the last week or so, including one in which she was interviewed.  She read a letter asking MARP members to register their vote online in support of Clare in the 2011 “This Place Matters Community Challenge” sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.  Clare could receive a $25,000 prize which would be used to restore the Clare Railroad Station.

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Newsletter:  Chase noted that the Spring issue of The Michigan Passenger came out in late April.  She will continue to discuss its scheduling with Valderas.  Chase plans to begin issuing a monthly online bulletin in the near future.

Wallington asked that news articles be forwarded to Sobczak for posting on the MARP website.

Outreach:  Tischbein handed out a schedule of upcoming outreach events and asked members to indicate which ones they would be willing to staff.

Membership:  Newell passed out a report on the number of members who had renewed February-May.  She will add January statistics when she receives them.  She noted that renewing members had also donated $541.00 with their renewals.  In response to a question from Wilson, Newell expressed her intention to address membership retention,  possibly through the website.  Charnetski suggested first asking for memberships, then sending a bill later.  Chase will be reviewing results to date, then sending a second notice to non-renewing members.

Montieth suggested selling life memberships to those age eighty and above for $50.00.

Meetings:  Wallington reported that the next meeting will be at the Dowagiac station on Saturday, July 30.  After the meeting, members will be able to attend a local festival.  Chase is organizing a side trip to a local museum.  The Wolverine will make a special stop on that day for members.  Amtrak will need to know how many will be taking advantage of this service.

The Annual Meeting will take place at Clara’s in Battle Creek on Saturday, September 17, starting at 10:30 a.m.  Registration of $20-$25 will cover a choice of one of three selected entries from the menu.

On Saturday, October 8, we will gather at the historic C&O depot in Petoskey.  The curator of a local museum may be the principal speaker.  Indian Trails will offer special rates to Petoskey.  Lodging will be available at a historic hotel nearby operated by Stafford Smith.

The November meeting will be at the depot in St. Joseph on either November 12 or 19.

No meeting is scheduled for December.

Regional Chapter Reports:
Northern:  Monteith continues to distribute Amtrak National Timetables throughout Northern Michigan.  He plans to attend the scheduled hearings on the Michigan State Rail Plan in the Upper Peninsula.  To attract interest in the revival of rail service, he has had the timetable of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad reprinted.  These are available for $2.50 per copy.
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Metro Detroit:  Hinkins attended the recent hearing on the Michigan State Rail Plan in Detroit.  He found the rail investment packages interesting.  The proposed plan is divided into four packages.  In the Baseline Package, with existing funding only available, the Wolverines would be dropped.  In the recommended Better Package, Wolverine service is maintained.  There is also a Good Package and a Best Package, which would include $9.2 billion over the next twenty years.  Wilson urged that someone review the report in its entirety and report their findings to the Executive Committee.

Work on the West Detroit junction improvements is scheduled for later in 2011.  Renovation of the Michigan Central Depot in Detroit is underway.

Tischbein is working to get volunteers to keep tabs on the Pontiac and Detroit Amtrak stations.

Western: Langdon welcomed several members attending today including Kim Powell and Sam Crowl.  Sam is director of Operation Lifesaver in our area.  Langdon then reported on the abysmal on time performance record of Michigan trains.  He suggested that members review this data on line.

Pere Marquette ridership remains soft compared to that on the Blue Water and Wolverine routes.  The Pere Marquette is rarely included in Amtrak specials.  We need to work with Amtrak and MDOT on this disparity.

Vavra-Musser reported that the new waiting room at the St. Joseph Depot is now open, though still waiting for the arrival of new seating.  It is very attractive.  The old waiting room is now a meeting room.

Vavra-Musser is working to have additional frequencies of the Pere Marquette during the PGA tournament in St. Joseph in 2012.  The course is just ½ mile from the station and trains could actually stop right at the course if a temporary platform was built.

Kreig expressed the need to have a group focused on each of the Michigan routes, a group including heavy hitters such as mayors who could market the services and push for additional frequencies.  He will prepare a proposal for consideration by the Executive Committee.

The meeting of the Executive Committee adjourned at 10:55 a.m.

Respectfully submitted:    Approved:

 

Hugh D. Gurney     Robert Tischbein
Secretary      Chair
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MINUTES – March 19, 2011 – Bangor Train Station – Bangor, Michigan – 15 attendees

Meeting was opened at 10:00 for the Executive Committee.  Since there were only three members in attendance the session was halted for lack of a quorum.  Four members had been excused due to schedule conflicts.

The General Membership meeting was convened with a discussion by John Langdon on priorities and the setting of goals for same. No decisions were made due to the limited number of members present.

Ken Ratzlaff, was introduced as the featured speaker.  Ken is the owner of the train station and he introduced two members of the South Haven Historical Association.  Ken’s presentation centered around the station (built in 1929) history and railroad development in western Michigan.  He presented maps and pictures of railroad activity throughout the period.  It was most interesting.  As a thank you, it was decided to make a $100 donation to the Historical Association.  Dave Randall will take care of this.

Next, was a discussion of the status of the Michigan Passenger newsletter and the delay that is occurring in the issuance and timeliness.   J.R. Valderas advised that his workload had increased greatly and his time was at a premium.  He said it was almost finished and he expected to publish it before  the end of the month . It was suggested that Vice Chair Whittier and Communications Chair Kay Chase review the issue along with J.R.to see  if a more regular and/timely method of communicating can be developed.

NATIONAL TRAIN DAY- J.R. advised that three towns are signed up – Niles, Bangor, and Jackson.

NEXT MEETING Is planned for April 16 in Lyon

Respectfully submitted – Barney Whittier – Vice Chairman

MINUTES
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
MILLETT DEPOT, LANSING
APRIL 16, 2011

Those Signing In: Hugh Gurney, Bob Tischbein, Clark Charnetski, Jim Hinkins, John DeLora, Dick Pekarek, Kay Chase, Steve T. Sobel, J.P. DesCamp, Doug Wilson, Michael Frezell, Larry Krieg, John Langdon, Rich Vavra-Musser, Dave Randall, Jim Wallington

Excused: Kathleen Newell

Presentation: Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and turned the floor over to Kay Chase, who made a power point presentation entitled “Trains on Track for Energy Efficiency”.  Among points made in the presentation were that transportation accounts for 30% of energy consumed in the United States, 34% of Co2 use, and 68% of oil use.  Transportation is 95% oil dependent.  Light vehicles use 68% of this energy and rail uses 2%.  Trains are 20% more fuel efficient than planes and use create less Co2 than either planes or automobiles.  Vehicle Miles Traveled continue to rise and are outstripping any gains made in fuel economy. The Midwest High Speed Rail Association sees the Midwest a comparable to Spain, where, with a high speed rail network emanating from Madrid, rail now has half the market on city pairs like Madrid-Barcelona.  Here in the United States, transit growth is outpacing auto use.  Amtrak has seen seventeen months of growth in ridership in the United States and in Michigan.

Chase urged MARP to develop a program like this for outreach – a kit that many could use.  It should also include a list of talking points for those staffing tables at outreach events.  Chanetski noted that people attending green fairs don’t take as much paper as at other outreach events.

Coordinator Reports:
Meetings: Wallington is working with Monteith on an October meeting in the Charlevoix/Petoskey area.  He is also laying plans for the Annual Meeting.  After some discussion, Langdon amended his original motion to state that the Annual Meeting should be held in September at a location that would be convenient for people to attend by train.  The motion was seconded by Randall and approved by the members present.

The next meeting will be on June 11 in South Lyon.  A combined July/August meeting will be held in Dowagiac on July 30 in conjunction with a local festival.  Chase will be setting up a tour of the community.  The schedule will tie in with the train schedule.

The November meeting is still up in the air.  Vavra-Musser suggested St. Joseph, where a remodeled station will include a meeting area.
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Regional Chapter Reports:
Metro Detroit: Hinkins reported that the federal government has approved funding for the M-1 project, the light rail line along Woodward Avenue in Detroit.  The EIS has been completed, the money has been obligated, and the Detroit City Council has authorized a $125 million bond to cover a portion of the federal match.  Private investors are also covering part of the match.  While still up in the air, the trains will probable go down the center of Woodward Avenue.  Ground breaking is scheduled for early 2012.

No action has yet been observed on the West Detroit Junction improvements.  Three bridges need to be repaired and a mile of new track layed.  A cell tower will need to be moved.  SEMCOG predicts a construction will start this summer.  DeLora noted that some funding has been obligated but a crossover from one track to another has not.

Four MITRAIN units for either the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter line or WALLY are now complete and await testing by FRA.

According to DeLora, the new Pontiac transportation center is nearing completion.  Langdon noted that funding for this project and the commuter cars came from MDOT’s transit budget.

Charnetski reported that parking at the present station in Ann Arbor is becoming an issue.  When the Ann Arbor-Detroit commuter line is completed, the present long term lot would be used for additional tracks.  Replacement parking space at the old Michcon facility has not been finalized.  DeLora noted that money for the proposed new station in Ann Arbor is in the MDOT request for funding from the grant that Florida rescinded.

Wilson reported that the Detroit River International Crossing will probably happen.  It will cost $6 billion or more including new approach roadways in Windsor and new toll plazas.  MDOT has said it will not be responsible for bonding, so a new bridge authority will have to be created.

Plans for a new rail tunnel are moving ahead.  Unfortunately, trackage on the U. S. side is in bad shape, limited to 10 mph.  Wilson and Hinkins plan to investigate the area soon and see what is needed to bring this area up to par.

Langdon brought up the possibility of having one of the Wolverines continue to Toronto through the new tunnel.  Wilson fears that this would interfere with VIA’s profitable operation.  VIA owns the tracks between Windsor and Chatham.  Border crossing issues would also need to be resolved.

East/Central: Wallington thanked Michael Frezell for hosting today’s meeting at the Millett depot.  Pekarek noted that the Blue Water is often held just outside of Battle Creek until the Wolverine, running late because of slow orders, passes.  Langdon responded that the spring timetable shows no schedule changes to address this problem.

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Western: Langdon reported that parking is getting scarce at the Holland station.  There is a feeling that the Pere Marquette is at a disadvantage because it is not included in many of the fare promotions and fares in general are higher per mile than on other Michigan lines.  Vavra-Musser informed the group that the new waiting room at St. Joseph will be completed within a month, paid for by the restaurant that occupies most of the building.

Millett Station: Langdon moved that MARP make a donation of $100.00 to the Lansing Model Railroad Club for hosting today’s meeting at the Millett Depot.  The motion was seconded by DeLora and approved by the members present.

Frezell thanked the group for the donation on behalf of the Lansing Model Railroad Club.  He then shared what he knows of the club and the Millett Depot.  The depot was built in the 1890’s to serve the small community of Millett which included a grain elevator and a small cluster of homes.  The station was used into the 1950’s, when it was abandoned by Grand Trunk Western.  The last agent died on the job.  The Lansing Model Railroad Club, organized in 1953, then leased the station from the railroad for its model railroad displays.  This arrangement was put in peril in the late 1950’s when the railroad decided to build a spur to the grain elevator.  The station was in the way and was slated for demolition.  Fortunately, Gladys Olds of Lansing came forward and donated land to the township so the depot could be moved.  It was relocated in the early 1960’s to its present location.

The Lansing Model Railroad Club has around 30 active members.  Its fall show has paid for the addition to the building we are meeting in today, completed in 2009 at a cost of $45,000.  A workshop and storage are downstairs.  The club hosts several open houses during the year.  Digital Command Control operates the model trains.

Outreach: Tischbein handed out the latest Outreach Schedule.  For National Train Day on May 7, events are schedule in Detroit, Dearborn, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Flint, Holland, Niles and Dowagiac.  Other upcoming events include:
Rochester Green Living Festival  May 13-15
Durand Railroad Days    May 13-15
Ann Arbor Green Fair    June 10
Jackson Green Fair    June 18
Crossroads Village    August 6-7

New Business:

Randall reported that a request for dues from the Michigan Environmental Council had been paid in December.

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DeLora moved that MARP make a grant of $250.00 towards the restoration of the station in Holly.  The group is now halfway to their funding goal.  The motion was seconded by Langdon and approved by the members present.

DeLora then moved that MARP provide $250.00 for planting flowers at the Detroit and Ann Arbor stations.  The flowers at Ann Arbor would be on the south and west sides of the stations.  Kuhn will repair a faucet so they can be watered.  Water is available at Detroit.  Ann Arbor will be given priority.  The motion was seconded by Langdon and approved by the members present.

Langdon moved that a previously suggested $500.00 grant to fund the application for non-profit status for the Friends of the Jackson Michigan Central Depot be redirected.  John Guidinger has asked that the funds be used instead for plantings at the station and murals on boarded up windows.  The motion was seconded by DeLora and approved by the members present.

Chase asked that a proposal to purchase a power point projector be tabled.  The motion was seconded by Sobel and approved by the members present.

Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted: Approved:
Hugh D. Gurney     Robert Tischbein
Secretary      Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 
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DRAFT

MINUTES

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
MILLETT DEPOT, LANSING
APRIL 16, 2011

Present: Robert Tischbein, Jim Hinkins, Hugh Gurney, Kay Chase, John Langdon, Jim Wallington, Dave Randall

Excused: Kathleen Newell

Call to Order: Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

Treasurer’s Report: Treasurer Randall reported that, as of March 31, 2011, the balance in the MARP checking account stood at $10,984.88 and the Pratt Fund was valued at $16, 024.40.  As requested, Randall has transferred $500.00 from the checking account to the Pratt Fund and has issued a check for one grant.  A little research indicates that the donor from Lebanon, NH, made similar donations to other rail groups she considered active including NARP.  DeLora moved acceptance of the Treasurer’s Report.  This was seconded by Langdon and approved by those present.

Randall reported that he will not be moving to Texas.

Coordinator Reports:
Government/Public Affairs: Langdon reported that he was becoming more involved the Trans4Michigan as has Chase.  The organization now has an operating web site.  He and Tim Fischer of MEC have been holding “Meet and Greet” sessions with 121 Michigan legislators, briefing them on how Amtrak fits into the transportation network.

As of January 2, 2011, MDOT had applied for funding for the West Detroit Junction, upgrading of the Kalamazoo-Dearborn line, renovation of the Battle Creek station and new transportation centers in Birmingham/Troy and Dearborn.  Many projects have not yet been obligated, including the Englewood Flyover in Chicago and the Indiana Gateway.  The transportation center at Birmingham/Troy is up in the air.

DeLora added that, as of Friday, April 15, all High Speed Rail funding had been eliminated for FY 2011, as well as grants to AAR.  Amtrak’s budget has been cut by 2%.
Because the deadline with the developer had expired before all funding was in place, the Birmingham/Troy project is now in court.  In such cases, courts tend to favor the government, which is always slow getting its funding in place.

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Fiscal Year 2012 promises to be very tough, DeLora continued.  New Tea Party representatives are very hostile to Amtrak, which consumes 17 minutes of federal spending.  Amtrak is now covering 80% of its expenses, an excellent ratio compared to other transportation options.  The Blue Water is now meeting 90% of its expenses.

States including Michigan have applied for a share of the $2.4 billion left on the table when Florida turned back its High Speed Rail grant.

Langdon attended the Michigan Rail Association meeting.  They are supporting the governor’s position on rail.  Unfortunately, his budget for transit has been cut in both the House and the Senate, including $15 million for new buses.  It is not clear how this impacts intercity buses.  Langdon suggests working with Trans4Michigan and the Lets’s Get Moving Coalition to have this funding restored.

DeLora noted that governor Snyder supports High Speed Rail as long as it can be done with federal funding.  By renegotiating bonds, additional money may be available for transit.

The Midwest High Speed Rail Association has come out in support of a network of true highs speed routes connecting Chicago with St. Louis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Detroit.  The Cleveland/Detroit route would cross Indiana to Fort Wayne, where one line would branch off for Detroit and another would continue to Cleveland.  This is the routing recommended by the French group which studied alignments.

In response to a question from Vavra-Musser about strategy, DeLora suggested pointing to ridership.  We can point out that privatization is not always the answer, as indicated by the Illinois Tollway system, which has gone broke under private management.

The bill that would permit rail projects to be covered under state bonding has been reintroduced and is now in committee.

Communications: Chase handed out samples of an e-mail newsletter she is working on.  Hard copies could be printed for outreach events.  Vavra-Musser expressed support, stating that people like something concise.  Unfortunately, it will miss about 1/3 of our members, who do not have e-mail.

Steve Sobel, who was present as an observer, reported that Valderas still had three or four pages of The Michigan Passenger  to complete and was staying home today to work on it.  Vavra-Musser noted that our membership brochure says members will receive quarterly newsletters.

 

 

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At Wallington’s suggestion, Chairman Tischbein said he would appoint a subcommittee including Wallington to review the status of our newsletter and website.

The Executive Committee adjourned at 11:05 a.m.

Respectfully submitted:     Accepted:
Hugh D. Gurney      Robert Tischbein
Secretary       Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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DRAFT
MINUTES
MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
DURAND UNION STATION, DURAND
FEBRUARY 10, 2011

Those Signing In: Hugh Gurney, John DeLora, Steve T. Sobel, Dick Pekarek, Clark Charnetski, Norma Ward, John D. Langdon, Kay Chase, Dan Platz, Jim Hinkins, Robert Patterson, Diane Patterson, Pat Post, Doug Wilson, Bob Tischbein

Also Present: Bob Cosgrove, Sylvia Sanders, Bob Jones, Michael Melet, Dan Westcott, Barb Spaulding-Westcott

Call to Order: Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m.

Guest Speakers: Tischbein first introduced Robert Cosgove, a founding member of the Blue Water Chapter, National Railroad Historical Society and currently Curator of the Glancy Train Collections at the Detroit Historical Museum.  The Detroit River Railroad Tunnel celebrated its 100th anniversary during the summer of 2010.  Despite being unseen, the tunnel handles 25 freight trains each day and moves 460,000 cars annually.

The first train through the tunnel was a westbound Canada Southern passenger train called the Fast Western Express on July 26, 1910.  Previously, ferries carried trains across the Detroit River.  The Canada Southern ferried cars across from just north of Amherstburg on the Canadian site to Stony Island, then bridged to Grosse Isle, then bridged again to the American side of the river, then headed into the Brush Street Station in Detroit.  The Amherstburg Station is now the Gibson Gallery of Art and the Grosse Isle Station now houses the Grosse Isle Historical Society.

A railroad bridge would have had to clear the 150 foot masts of the sailing ships of the day, so a tunnel became the best option.  Plans for the current tunnel were drafted in 1905 and construction got underway in 1906.  William Wilgus, Chief Engineer for the New York Central System, deserves most of the credit for the design.

Twin tubes encased in concrete were constructed by Great Lakes Engineering Works in St. Clair and floated down to the construction site, where there were buried in trenches dug into the river bed.

When opened, electric engines pulled trains compete with steam locomotives through the 4.5 mile tunnel and its approaches. They were replaced by diesels in 1953.

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One of the original electric locomotives built by General Electric is now at the Henry Ford Museum, along with a steam crane used by the railroad.  The electric engines were powered by DC current supplied by Detroit Edison.

The now defunct Michigan Central Station was an extension of the tunnel project, built at the northern portal of the tunnel.  It was designed by Reed and Stanton of St. Paul, Minnesota, the same architects who designed Grand Central Station in New York.  The structure is currently owned by Matty Maroun, who also owns the Ambassador Bridge.

The Detroit River Tunnel was built and operated by the New York Central until the 1960’s, when the New York Central merged with the Pennsylvania to become the Penn-Central.  After the Penn-Central went bankrupt, the tunnel was taken over by Conrail, which sold it to the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific in equal shares.  In 2004, CN sold its interest in the tunnel and CP sold the majority of its interest to Borealis, a division of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System.  Operated by CP, that railroad now has a 16.5% interest in the tunnel while the majority is owned by Borealis.

A new tunnel adjacent to the current tunnel is now planned and going through environmental review.  It is expected that permission to build the tunnel will be granted by the end of 2011. Total cost of the project is estimated at $400 million.  It is uncertain at this time whether the new tunnel will be single or double track.

In the discussion period that followed Cosgrove’s talk, it was ascertained that $21.5 billion of the $137 billion in commerce crosses the Detroit River by rail at the current time.  A new tunnel will speed the movement of Canadian goods to the southern U. S.
Continental Rail Development is overseeing the project and hopes to begin construction in 2012.  Completion is anticipated by 2015.

 

Tischbein then introduced Bob Jones and Michael Melet of Michigan Solutions Group.  With an initial grant of $5,000 from MARP, Michigan Solutions Group offered to assume management of all MARP programs including publicity, public and governmental relations, website and fundraising.  Expenses would be covered by the initial grant, foundation grants, and memberships solicited by MSG.  They would push for passenger rail service to Northwest Michigan.

NO QUORUM: At this point it was determined that a quorum did not exist, so no action was taken on this proposal.

Minutes were reviewed and several corrections noted.  Due to lack of a quorum, they were not acted on.

Treasurer’s Report was not acted upon due to the lack of a quorum.

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Michigan Central Station at Jackson: Langdon noted that the Friends of the Jackson Michigan Station will not be part of MARP.  As agreed to at the October meeting, MARP will donate $500 to that group to help pay for their charter as a separate organization.

Coordinator’s Reports:
Public/Governmental Affairs:  Langdon reported that the Michigan By Rail report had been written and was currently being reviewed by the staff at the Michigan Environmental Council.  He and Tim Fischer of MEC are now involved in Meet and Greet with each of the 148 legislators in Lansing, a fifteen minute meeting with each legislator to brief each one on MARP, MEC, Michigan By Rail and Amtrak.

The MEC Legislative Breakfast on February 9 was well attended by newly elected legislators.  Eight MARP members participated.

Transportation  For Michigan or Trans4M plans a big roll out in March, announcing their goal of developing a new and improved transportation policy for Michigan.  MARP has received the first installment of the $5,000 grant announced in January.  Charnetski suggested some of that grant go toward outreach materials.

Communications: No Report
Outreach: Tischbein handed out the most recent outreach schedule.  He noted that the most recent events were at the back of the schedule.

Regional Chapter Reports:
Metro Detroit: Hinkins announced that meetings were being held today at the Detroit Public Library to review the Woodward Light Rail Draft Environmental Statement.  TRU is organizing additional public meetings up and down the line.

Charnetski noted that the Ann Arbor Transportation authority is sponsoring twenty public meetings to gather input for their revised transportation plan which will include commuter rail and light rail.

East/Central: Pekarek reported on a second CN derailment recently in St. Clair County.  Wilson suggested putting a sign up in the Port Huron station noting the location of the Quik Trak machine at the Blue Water CVB.  Tischbein plans to meet with Wilson concerning Port Huron/Sarnia and invited others to join them.

Western: Langdon expressed pleasure that ridership on the Pere Marquette was up in January, along with the other Michigan routes.  He is currently doing a price comparison between the Pere Marquette and the Blue Water.  DeLora noted that Amtrak’s fare structure is a real challenge.

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Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on Saturday, March 19 in Bangor.  The Executive Committee will meet at 10:00 a.m. and the General Membership Meeting will be at 11:00 a.m.

Other Business: Barb Westcott-Spaulding announced that the Mid Michigan Railroad Society was sponsoring a Chicago For Lunch excursion on April 26.  Participants will be able to travel from Flint or Durand to Chicago and back for $39.00 round trip.  Lunch will be on your own in Chicago.  Last year, approximately 70 people participated and Amtrak provided their own coach.  Reservations are due by April 17.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted:    Accepted:

 

Hugh D. Gurney     Robert Tischbein
Secretary      Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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DRAFT

MINUTES

MONTHLY
MEMBERSHIP MEETING

MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS

DURAND
UNION STATION, DURAND

FEBRUARY 10, 2011

 

Those Signing
In: Hugh Gurney, John DeLora, Steve
T. Sobel, Dick Pekarek, Clark Charnetski, Norma Ward, John D. Langdon, Kay
Chase, Dan Platz, Jim Hinkins, Robert Patterson, Diane Patterson, Pat Post,
Doug Wilson, Bob Tischbein

 

Also Present: Bob Cosgrove, Sylvia Sanders, Bob Jones,
Michael Melet, Dan Westcott, Barb Spaulding-Westcott

 

Call to Order: Chairman Tischbein called the meeting to
order at 10:05 a.m.

 

Guest Speakers: Tischbein first introduced Robert
Cosgove, a founding member of the Blue Water Chapter, National Railroad
Historical Society and currently Curator of the Glancy Train Collections at the
Detroit Historical Museum.  The Detroit River Railroad Tunnel celebrated
its 100^th anniversary during the summer of 2010.  Despite being unseen, the tunnel handles 25
freight trains each day and moves 460,000 cars annually.

 

The first train through the tunnel was a westbound Canada
Southern passenger train called the Fast Western Express on July 26,
1910.  Previously, ferries carried trains
across the Detroit
River.  The Canada
Southern ferried cars across from just north of Amherstburg on the Canadian
site to Stony Island,
then bridged to Grosse Isle, then bridged again to the American side of the
river, then headed into the Brush Street Station in Detroit.
The Amherstburg Station is now the Gibson Gallery of Art and the Grosse
Isle Station now houses the Grosse Isle Historical Society.

 

A railroad bridge would have had to clear the 150 foot masts
of the sailing ships of the day, so a tunnel became the best option.  Plans for the current tunnel were drafted in
1905 and construction got underway in 1906.
William Wilgus, Chief Engineer for the New York Central System, deserves
most of the credit for the design.

 

Twin tubes encased in concrete were constructed by Great
Lakes Engineering Works in St. Clair and floated down to the construction site,
where there were buried in trenches dug into the river bed.

 

When opened, electric engines pulled trains compete with
steam locomotives through the 4.5 mile tunnel and its approaches. They were
replaced by diesels in 1953.

 

-1-

 

 

One of the original electric locomotives built by General
Electric is now at the Henry
Ford Museum,
along with a steam crane used by the railroad.
The electric engines were powered by DC current supplied by Detroit
Edison.

 

The now defunct Michigan Central Station was an extension of
the tunnel project, built at the northern portal of the tunnel.  It was designed by Reed and Stanton of St.
Paul, Minnesota, the same architects who designed Grand Central Station in New York.  The structure is currently owned by Matty
Maroun, who also owns the Ambassador
Bridge.

 

The Detroit River Tunnel was built and operated by the New
York Central until the 1960’s, when the New York Central merged with the Pennsylvania to become
the Penn-Central.  After the Penn-Central
went bankrupt, the tunnel was taken over by Conrail, which sold it to the
Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific in equal shares.  In 2004, CN sold its interest in the tunnel
and CP sold the majority of its interest to Borealis, a division of the Ontario
Municipal Employees Retirement System.
Operated by CP, that railroad now has a 16.5% interest in the tunnel
while the majority is owned by Borealis.

 

A new tunnel adjacent to the current tunnel is now planned
and going through environmental review.
It is expected that permission to build the tunnel will be granted by
the end of 2011. Total cost of the project is estimated at $400 million.  It is uncertain at this time whether the new
tunnel will be single or double track.

 

In the discussion period that followed Cosgrove’s talk, it
was ascertained that $21.5 billion of the $137 billion in commerce crosses the Detroit River by rail at the current time.  A new tunnel will speed the movement of
Canadian goods to the southern U. S.

Continental Rail Development is overseeing the project and
hopes to begin construction in 2012.
Completion is anticipated by 2015.

 

 

 

Tischbein then introduced Bob Jones and Michael Melet of
Michigan Solutions Group.  With an
initial grant of $5,000 from MARP, Michigan Solutions Group offered to assume
management of all MARP programs including publicity, public and governmental
relations, website and fundraising.
Expenses would be covered by the initial grant, foundation grants, and
memberships solicited by MSG.  They would
push for passenger rail service to Northwest Michigan.

 

NO QUORUM: At this point it was determined that a
quorum did not exist, so no action was taken on this proposal.

 

Minutes were
reviewed and several corrections noted.
Due to lack of a quorum, they were not acted on.

 

Treasurer’s Report was
not acted upon due to the lack of a quorum.

 

-2-

 

Michigan Central Station at Jackson:
Langdon noted that the Friends of the Jackson Michigan Station will
not be part of MARP.  As agreed to at the
October meeting, MARP will donate $500 to that group to help pay for their
charter as a separate organization.

 

Coordinator’s
Reports:

Public/Governmental Affairs: Langdon reported that the Michigan By Rail report
had been written and was currently being reviewed by the staff at the Michigan Environmental
Council.  He and Tim Fischer of MEC are
now involved in Meet and Greet with each of the 148 legislators in Lansing, a fifteen minute
meeting with each legislator to brief each one on MARP, MEC, Michigan By Rail
and Amtrak.

 

The MEC Legislative Breakfast on February 9 was well
attended by newly elected legislators.
Eight MARP members participated.

 

Transportation  For Michigan or Trans4M plans a big roll out in March,
announcing their goal of developing a new and improved transportation policy
for Michigan.  MARP has received the first installment of
the $5,000 grant announced in January.
Charnetski suggested some of that grant go toward outreach materials.

 

Communications: No Report

Outreach:
Tischbein handed out the most recent outreach schedule.  He noted that the most recent events were at
the back of the schedule.

 

Regional Chapter
Reports:

Metro Detroit: Hinkins announced that meetings
were being held today at the Detroit Public Library to review the Woodward
Light Rail Draft Environmental Statement.
TRU is organizing additional public meetings up and down the line.

 

Charnetski noted that the Ann Arbor Transportation authority
is sponsoring twenty public meetings to gather input for their revised
transportation plan which will include commuter rail and light rail.

 

East/Central: Pekarek reported on a
second CN derailment recently in St. Clair County.  Wilson suggested putting a sign up in the
Port Huron station noting the location of the Quik Trak machine at the Blue
Water CVB.  Tischbein plans to meet with Wilson concerning Port
Huron/Sarnia and invited others to join them.

 

Western:
Langdon expressed pleasure that ridership on the Pere
Marquette was up in January, along with the other Michigan routes.  He is currently doing a price comparison
between the Pere Marquette and the Blue Water.  DeLora noted that Amtrak’s fare structure is
a real challenge.

 

-3-

Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on Saturday,
March 19 in Bangor.  The Executive Committee will meet at 10:00
a.m. and the General Membership Meeting will be at 11:00 a.m.

 

Other Business: Barb Westcott-Spaulding announced that
the Mid Michigan Railroad Society was sponsoring a Chicago For Lunch excursion on April 26.  Participants will be able to travel from Flint or Durand to Chicago
and back for $39.00 round trip.  Lunch
will be on your own in Chicago.  Last year, approximately 70 people
participated and Amtrak provided their own coach.  Reservations are due by April 17.

 

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted:                                             Accepted:

 

 

 

Hugh D. Gurney                                                         Robert
Tischbein

Secretary                                                                     Chair

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-4-