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Michigan could see future passenger rail route from Holland to Detroit

Courtesy: MDOT
File Photo

State transportation leaders are studying a potential rail route across lower Michigan, from the Holland/Grand Rapids area through Lansing, Ann Arbor to Detroit

“We've got about 800,000 riders that ride our existing services on Amtrak now.“

Peter Anastor is the Director of the Office of Rail for the Michigan Department of Transportation.

“One thing that we hear quite a bit is more connectivity within the state of Michigan, so we're looking at how do we connect and serve our major population centers here in the
state.”

Three current rail routes operate from Pontiac, Port Huron and Grand Rapids to Chicago.

MDOT is working with a consultant to study building a fourth passenger rail line connecting Holland, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Ann Arbor and Detroit.

The study will examine who might ride the rail such as students or those with medical needs.

“There's opportunities for business travel as well or people that need to come into Lansing to meet with legislators or things like that.”

Another big question: how to pay for construction and maintenance.

“We're hopeful I think in long term as we advance further down the road that we’ll be able to secure some federal funding to help support this initiative, but the first step is to really understand what is needed, what those costs are.”

Environmental impact is also a consideration.

Anastor hopes to get the study completed in the next 12-24 months but admits building the railway is still a long way off.

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