Ann Arbor area residents invited to help map Michigan's future rail system
Ann Arbor area residents are being asked to give their input on what Michigan's future passenger rail system should look like and how it should operate.
Would Southeast Michigan benefit from a modern commuter rail system — one linking Ann Arbor and Detroit? Similarly, should the state continue pushing ahead with plans for a high-speed rail corridor between Detroit and Chicago?
A "Michigan By Rail" public forum will be held from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 9 at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building, 4800 E. Huron River Dr.
U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, and other elected officials are expected to attend and discuss all things rail with members of the public.
Sponsors of the forum include the Michigan Environmental Council, Michigan Association of Railroad Passengers and Michigan Municipal League.
The Ann Arbor forum is the latest in a series of forums being held across the state as the Michigan Department of Transportation works to put together a statewide rail plan, according to the Michigan By Rail website.
The forums, including the one in Ann Arbor, are not official input sessions of MDOT, but rather are being held in an effort to engage citizens in discussions about their vision for the state’s passenger and freight rail systems, according to organizers.
Next week's forum will include an overview of the existing system, an interactive rail mapping session, discussion of financing issues and a big-picture vision of the future of Michigan’s railroad system. Click here to RSVP via Facebook.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government and politics for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
"I commute 130 miles a day. I spend over two hours a day in the car, going between Ann Arbor and Rochester. Having trains and/or buses would allow me the chance to spend this time more productively, without polluting the planet and clogging the roads." The notion that a public transit grid needs to be designed so folks can choose to live 65-70 miles from where they work is a broken plan before it gets started. I'd like one of those 300 mile an hour trains between Ann Arbor and Traverse City with no stops so I can do lunch on the bay.
Fritz
Thu, Dec 9, 2010 : 4:25 p.m.
I commute 130 miles a day. I spend over two hours a day in the car, going between Ann Arbor and Rochester. Having trains and/or buses would allow me the chance to spend this time more productively, without polluting the planet and clogging the roads. I hope Michigan moves toward public transit soon. I teach college students. These college students are leaving Michigan for cities like Chicago and New York, where smart investments in infrastructure made these cities successful in business and attractive to young people. If Michigan wants to thrive and keep its smartest young people, it should take advantage of the funding available now and build a world-class transit system. We should not be lagging behind China so far in investments in public works and infrastructure.
Craig Lounsbury
Fri, Sep 30, 2011 : 11:39 a.m.
If you want to lower your pollution footprint, make your time more productive and not clog the roads another plan would be to move closer to work. Reduce your 130 miles a day to 10 or 15. But that would require some personal sacrifice on your behalf.
SMAIVE
Wed, Dec 1, 2010 : 1:14 p.m.
If you expect suburbanites to ride past Dearborn, it best be underground until it reaches the stadiums.
UMBirder
Wed, Dec 1, 2010 : 9:55 a.m.
Trains from Ann Arbor (and Dexter, Chelsea, Ypsi) to Metro Airport would be great! They should go straight to the terminal for maximal usage by the public. Continuing on to Dearborn and Detroit would be helpful as well.
USRepublic
Wed, Dec 1, 2010 : 8:26 a.m.
Start at Ann Arbor City Hall.... Head East until you smell it..... Keep going East until you step in it.