Decided to start a list on all of the active studies and/or proposals on the expansion of rail service in Michigan. Realitically, none of these has real chance to move forward until there is a change in political power in the state government, part of which could very likely change next year. Anyway...
Coast-to-Coast: A ridership and cost study was completed last year on the passenger service that would linke Michigan's three-largest metropolitan services: Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Lansing. I believe the last service between these three cities ended in 1971 when Amtrak was formed and everything became Chicago-based in the state.
At present time, Route #1 (via Lansing & Jackson) and Route #2 (via Howell) are being studied. Route #3, though the most direct, was dropped because ridership would be too low skipping Ann Arbor. Route #2 would be more expensive than #1, but have a higher return on investment. Route #1 is cheaper (because part of the trip would use rail with an existent passenger service) with higher ridership potential, but a lower ROI. Both 79 MPH and 110 MPH services were studied. 79 MPH services would require government operating subsidies. 110 MPH service would pay for itself by 2030. The 110 MPH services studied were 4-to-8 trips (roundtrip) daily.
The next step, a
full feasibility study and environmental assessment study. The project has been supported by most of the chambers of commerce and visitor's bureaus along the line, and quite a few of the local and county governments.
WALLY (Washtenaw-and-Livingston Line)/North-South Commuter Line: This 27-mile service would central Livingston County with Ann Arbor. This long-time study was started in response to the deficient US-23 link between the two communities and how much money it'd cost to expand that freeway ($500 to $600 million). While the temporary solution was a nearly completed project to use the center shoulders have on-demand travel lanes, there is no immediate plan to fully expand the freeway.
An 18-month feasibility study was started in the first quarter of 2015. Early findings include that depending on the type of service (shuttle or full) caital costs range from 65 million to $122 million, way less than to expand the freeway in any case. There would be three stops in between Howell and Ann Arbor.
A2TC: A feasibility study is close to beginning this fall on a rail proposal studying connecting Ann Arbor with Traverse City in Northern Michigan. This one has the support of the Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, and is largely focused on economic development (Northern Michigan's tourist sector continues to grow) and the fact that the State of Michigan owns the rail along the route cutting the costs of such a project way down. It's why it's in the state's rail plan. 90% of the tracks are ready for passenger rail service should this ever happen. Nonprofit Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities hopes to raise funds this year to start demostration riders sometime next year.
There is also the
Ann Arbor-Detroit Regional Rail, which was the closest to happening, but the RTA's master plan failed by a narrow 50.5% to 49.5% margin last fall. The RTA will hopefully come back in 2018 and win this one.
Other news includes the ongoing upgrading of Amtrak's
Michigan Line, which included the West Detroit Connection Track project completed in December 2015 speeding up the
Wolverine approach into central Detroit.
Amtrak’s Wolverine passenger trains between Chicago and Detroit have begun using a new curve at West Detroit Junction by
mwmbwls, on Flickr
They also added 9 mile miles of double track from Dearborn to Wayne to speed up the trip further seperating freight and passenger traffic.
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