SEMCOG, Ypsilanti to showcase commuter rail cars in Depot Town prior to Heritage Festival
For the first time in recent memory, a train will stop in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town and potential passengers will be able to climb aboard.
This Friday, at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse, area residents will have a chance to view the cars planned to be part of a commuter train service that will stop in Depot Town as part of the proposed Ann Arbor-to-Detroit rail service.
Ann Arbor resident Nick Tobier and his 3-year-old son Oscar board a recently refurbished railcar for the proposed Ann Arbor-to-Detroit commuter rail service on display in downtown Ann Arbor on June 14.
Ryan J. Stanton | AnnArbor.com
Friday's MiTrain press conference will feature speakers including SEMCOG Executive Director Paul Tait, Ypsilanti Mayor Paul Schreiber, Eastern Michigan University President Susan Martin and Debbie Locke of the Ypsilanti Visitors and Convention Bureau.
After remarks, visitors can take a look inside the refurbished cars that will be part of the line.
“People can get on board and take a look around, sit in the seats and get a feel for it,” Tait said. “There will be a platform that will allow people to climb on board and see what they’ll be riding in the not-too-distant future.”
Tait said the Ann Arbor-to-Detroit commuter rail, which has been in the works for several years, is moving forward despite slower-than-expected progress.
But SEMCOG and the Michigan Department of Transportation are now working on a multi-million dollar effort to upgrade the tracks between Ann Arbor and Detroit to reduce travel time and improve the ability of passenger and freight trains to share the tracks.
That effort will take several years, and Tait said SEMCOG is simultaneously working to secure more funding for the estimated $10 million in annual operating costs.
The cars cost about $300,000 each to renovate, and Tait said he is pleased with the results.
“The refurbished cars really were cost effective compared to buying new cars,” Tait said. “And they are really first class. You would never guess they are old cars. We want people to stop in and take a look at them”
Plans are also in the works for special event trains that will shuttle riders between Detroit and Ann Arbor for events like the Thanksgiving Day Parade, the outdoor hockey game at the University of Michigan on New Year’s Day or to Greenfield Village.
“We want to try to generate some buzz about it,” Tait said.
The MiTrain press conference will be held as this year’s Heritage Festival gets underway for the weekend.
“The train stop in Ypsilanti is going to happen in the future, and this is a way to not only look back on heritage of Ypsilanti, but look forward on what’s going to happen," Mayor Schreiber said.
Already Ypsilanti has design plans for a platform that would connect to the Ypsilanti Frieghthouse. City planners are also considering the impact of increased development pressure a train stop in Depot Town will bring.
The event starts at 1:45 p.m. on Friday at the Ypsilanti Freighthouse.
Tom Perkins is a freelance reporter. Contact the AnnArbor.com news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Nicholas Urfe
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 2:12 a.m.
Trains are noisy, stinky and polluting. And they are incredibly expensive.
Duc d'Escargot
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 12:21 p.m.
And how does that make them different from passenger cars and pickups with internal combustion engines?
motorcycleminer
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 12:46 a.m.
$ 300,000.00 cars on a $ 2 track theres fantastic use of tax $$$$$....
jns131
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 5:41 p.m.
So does that mean the dilapidated building is going to see new life? I really hope so. Or is there going to be a new building for those waiting for this train? I may stop by to see this. Great news to hear. This will also bring new life to our area as well.
Usual Suspect
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 2:24 p.m.
I think it was wise decision for MDOT to store these cars up north where taggers are unlikely to get at them.
Dog Guy
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 1:56 p.m.
After 40 years absence, I could revisit the DIA and DHM if these railcars are armored.
Gerry
Mon, Aug 19, 2013 : 12:41 p.m.
That truly sounds like an analysis of Midtown that contains a 40 year absence of accurate information.
Gerry
Fri, Aug 16, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.
I would like to see this service go directly into downtown Detroit. There a number of amazing old buildings- Penobscot, Guardian, etc- that are under utilized because they do not come with parking, not to mention the fact that downtown streets couldn't handle the traffic even if they did. A system similar to Metra in Chicago, going directly into downtown, would be a game changer.
Duc d'Escargot
Sat, Aug 17, 2013 : 12:18 p.m.
If I understood the plan correctly, this rail line would connect with the planned M1 Woodward line in the New Center area. That would make it possible to go into the Cultural Center and to downtown pretty easily. Imagine going to a Tigers game or to the Michigan Opera Theatre, to the Auto Show, etc. without having to drive or worry about parking.